Ova zemlja je užasno suha.

to be

Breakdown of Ova zemlja je užasno suha.

• ovaj: this
• suh: dry
• zemlja: soil

Questions & Answers about Ova zemlja je užasno suha.

Why is it ova and not ovaj or ovo?

Because ova has to agree with zemlja, which is a feminine singular noun.

In Croatian, words like this change form depending on the gender of the noun:

• ovaj = this, masculine
• ova = this, feminine
• ovo = this, neuter

Since zemlja is feminine, you say ova zemlja.

What exactly does zemlja mean here?

Zemlja can mean several related things in Croatian, including:

• earth
• soil
• land
• country

So this sentence can sound slightly ambiguous out of context. Depending on the situation, ova zemlja je užasno suha could mean:

• this land is terribly dry
• this country is terribly dry
• this soil is terribly dry

Croatian often allows this kind of overlap, and context usually makes the intended meaning clear.

Why is je needed in the sentence?