prep. + case | meaning | example |
u + dat. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uXbKE9OoZ6Z6udmd-ItPoJ_-d3b4jab4u6PRE0o3sOMnE-0wA6es9hA8gj2FLwC9jeOHespRI5UuTCzj__A-WONtubuabHlsJ1kPvKwgOxWg-0hRYCqAvTMpCPP4yFtaGcEReBYlY9BQ=s0-d) |
Static location, meant to be within something, "in" |
Živim u gradu. "I'm living in the city." |
na + dat. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_voHcjNI7rfkUkw_D2MRduJVMYGau8qACO9_Own0landfbsMVL5amQx2zm2GVULv4H5hRBNYD3LcXbGcfzes6b6v1704YNUPg48awAy0khDtt3VNSEPjr2CQRDpNMA4CePt2ICGGi-tAzc=s0-d) |
Static location, meant to be on surface of something, "at, on" |
Vidim brod na moru. "I see a ship at sea." |
|
u + acc. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uEXwSgz3yl4AfqyPGFwXiDS0sbKF2uP1bGX7jhfAfKbJucc6MYWqZWK-Xp1fb-AXu1UwpXNPGjSTLoZsC4AxwN8ztgTDaxFnAfBwzypVxQdHibW3jAN8gEZ6g0gF4Sk9bTmL5Tsih1cQ=s0-d) |
Destination, meant to be within something, "into" |
Idem u grad. "I'm going to the city." |
na + acc. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vmtLfJDU5n4qzmsGnCHwHIe287nwd0lOpUfsEvoxgDTxFUln-uvEgQ8bpBFp5T8cQVIzTivMUFiSfYxstlqPeQdUNXtbN8EtLpYIZMm4iUDb4z40yB_xrFwhCNz8Xkgugzh7s0wgWc3jw=s0-d) |
Destination, meant to be on top of something, "onto" |
Idem na krov. "I'm going onto the roof." |
|
iz + gen. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vMTJFSeHZGY9uFddGRTlOpxXiNu6IwVLsw4QbqmGV8C70dkw0FTDvfOerZ-g9O-vuGnXl7JFA7aK4k-slbf0y68NSIv0hRg_c-dZk2CE-EY0k7CXekZpiR8XZfboRUv3Kcnzj6=s0-d) |
Origin, meant to be within something, "out of", "from" |
Idem iz grada. "I'm going from the city." |
s + gen. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uw_JGhisDBcfkDtjIdz3dIF1qORI8O9GKnrfqwHiUm1Ph_boH8BjE46Zp5T4SoWVtFytjJNmVrYbbF01TLRCS_k2SjCS71ldVDTIBhhsgk6TrYRj4_T1cXGdscudzX5Uiw4c6HkCAR_w=s0-d) |
Origin, meant to be on surface of something; "off" |
Idem s krova. "I'm going off the roof." |
od + gen. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uJLcSHqJ6OL7n37PDAJfjdqdF3jAmSoBTTGIwR7-kh4t42zvhqLHFQitvNwaFw1Bi3kQ0cv0m12Ab68Ejwcq4PWvwEFDwGJIeO4D-ElIR0-5GUBGloxo844phRdbz0XfLQtAej2g=s0-d) |
Origin, meant to be close to something, start; "from", "since" |
Idem od kuće. "I'm going from the house." |
do + gen. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_spiPlc05DQ7-ciwkXsPOEmo584NN4d2aze_AJ83ly0H5l3cAQqNbWpD8gqynIuAqdbm_ksulXcfGdVo5q6LYT20iVS6jGmbGt_EIoYn5DZQKYrWwyKwc2VUbUyustgWaq9SKV7vA=s0-d) |
Destination, meant to some final limit, end; "to", "until" |
Idem do kraja. "I'm going to (the) end." |
prep. + case | meaning | example |
kroz + acc. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uGO92fNVOwLKiplYzb1mG8cPjzdCOalWuLvV1avIyaGA2if8NBRaEZBNhbkz4GdO1tv7L46Ze1VqAvBLksdURKf4xCzZ4mMJGFy5G3QnNj5kLFxZmxOU9EKWW03wo2p8kVNHJGpxyK=s0-d) |
Moving through something, to another side |
Idem kroz vrata. "I'm going through the door." |
među + acc. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s4m98dxpymy3zPDXacWUVe3yGn1hRYV7_y9FmRhmYmDNgdZAaB0U03CsERzl5ha8cNGoGPwiAuiUlZ-NAfo7L5pxlrod37UJmovfDqyuP33bqXkqFMFfdb-aRCRoqkQ7cfj2soRexV_XPS=s0-d) |
Moving towards a group of object "among" |
Idem među ljude. "I'm going among men." |
pod + acc. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tAED-Fqpb5Nok4cj0gr7-3SUgFQI-0i3WiSx207CQY5vjV9B2U0okyfwRnKnk-jJ5winMRgb1io-n_20swsGagrUfKMMpvrqakYa08OyPsUObbqbLiOIxHcMuGgfh2oJ8Hf3SExgRRf78M=s0-d) |
Destination under something, to get below something |
Idem pod krevet. "I'm going under the bed." |
pred + acc. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sB0oc9zedWPYym7vAanFn2T7ToLnqb1SoF7KeL8T_r_ctF992LjR_2Iqgdx3KGqmsOZpp_rR6eKb9BRWsnpiu6-aEvVjzdVPn2hAx8fCaRD4FXDSqRGmR_KaJVUAU9l9BPT9VAMKG6Sb231g=s0-d) |
Motion up to front of something
|
Došao sam pred ulaz. "I came to the entrance." |
|
među + ins. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s4ZE_DY2SI8RGWD96RMKAvP_gtBuNxP-i98s3tyQLOULNJvtDgVX07b5nkEZliq8Pe78syCut7-r9_K7TzggUBz7SuHIRxiQFuolcpq_dT_jUkuEPXs_3yY1q8qYPdjkyhiLiJdYLxlOgc=s0-d) |
Being among a group of object "in midst of" |
Sjedim među ljudima. "I'm sitting among men." |
pod + ins. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sJSHKKr-nkuPmOzLsvMwNEsu6_nW8AwLU9lGjeXbfuJBKkU7QBj8gvEQ3u2SZ4XaVRLajyqMNAmHvwoTGxAzM1ANFYewR59Kla2CNzO3s2lpGCjtIovrJLQ9ptGndVci9owV40nCFAC12tKFQ=s0-d) |
Location under something, "under" |
Mačka je pod krevetom. "The cat is under the bed." |
nad + ins. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sGpevEcTnHyxQOLp2wQNPVkAjOoGnKe6m-4RHdVuAsRt_gIE0J363YNmw84hLgxR21tbMRhscbFDyNs-gnJmJn7m_k7qwxPPX8U1JI8Y6ety68g0_HZoZVrsb3lfZ1qgBhNpNhHQ=s0-d) |
Location above something, (seldom used, see iznad below) |
Slika visi nad krevetom. "The picture hangs above the bed." |
pred + ins. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t2vJaRmPmjDa5EtIuXsOY-5qi7rOUbhKTTI5226dK7Q-B9HuUf2Y8czS5j5m-KjBcko27ER02Q8cKEdlcJOFAIf4a9fzhimzbhZDkqhmM1vvgGMIuN_7v6fxNjvTSR7B_FUXYxfIHQ9rnC4Q=s0-d) |
Location in front of something, "in front of" |
Čekam pred ulazom. "I'm waiting in front of the entrance." |
Preposition među is normally used with nouns in plural, or collective nouns, e.g. među djëcom, među prstima.
There's a special preposition for two things only, like "between", it's used for both direction and location:
prep. + case | meaning | example |
između + gen. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uV_l3ZbnZ2ZX85B9TIVX2IO5XKGAz0Jt_tByTkbl8jq-3lP3UcFkFVILqMHK_gILKkb1bEAu73_vSoFAxpCW-e9oFBaUKtcsiu58auOW7FBt_Y0Vu7He3IlnkHPPM-99UPzldq4D5i6U8lUDijc3HvUvjyqgD4jcw=s0-d) |
Between (two things) |
Slovenija je između Hrvatske i Austrije. "Slovenia is between Croatia and Austria." |
prep. + case | meaning | example |
po + dat. (!) |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vmqhr1MFBZzTYoz5yGraaMndxoUG28RX-yBEk0dvW27t-KNyEef7KxzGiCQTg57CxvCV47W424WqCOggqNYJL2TFlA8LTTmB0KLxGoyp-56Z3xlDL6IHyoFd3CCfJudOloKb3yeR2Adaw=s0-d) |
Being/moving onsurface of something, or over all its enterior,
always in contact with something |
Hodam po cesti. "I'm walking on the road."
Ruže rastu po kući. "Roses grow all over the house." |
uz + acc. (!) |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vExP4jm2kWuBKfRS4_JBGDH5L0K25eyCA9DyP1gm0eCRy2igzNHD0PO240IT7zRYaO4CccVWVknti_q_sVmqD9YOx0gK2g6GRtePwcEybzNav8Z3nLeTF97BzQ1ngmg8Ja2cJFvw=s0-d) |
Being/moving very close to something, possibly touching it |
Ruže rastu uz kuću. "Roses grow by the house." |
do + gen. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tJ0mn4rF8a7EzUBlkHOsAjsKOtYm1A0bPk0M8tXDMLHNOpGmpyIMP8xFcmJOS0tIIJopOr9KFOVmLmBLOYlTx7LbOV4ycjVkuPH90pLairFanJ0WCLXXN1z-79pfZEMFaua-G7zLw=s0-d) |
Being/moving beside, next to something, not touching it |
Ruže rastu do kuće. "Roses grow next to the house." |
pored + gen. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vHLlQJfEOqnq76Yf2FnGCmeTrcyUs2u8cC2g5x5ilyGg7sID1uqJIZ80DEXF4RzzgYTu2w3nWri85tYsBBeN1YfIh6bbJaUtVKhrpHxxd4Y2cmwLcW06xL7-3_O0G11McpevLKumFCdUtv=s0-d) |
Similar to do, but slighty father |
Ruže rastu pored kuće. "Roses grow beside the house." |
oko(lo) + gen. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vc-1VVBYXk4GOltf_EPkBTSX2LtTAFvUIF2z-fRqZ1unEgTDR9nGTvJm8daSEU_rTVBpc_1Uzghbnicy5y-cedt9DIVvPIOG0y6jyOC024cGJZ4YgJbAM5f7cn-nCNjWCsl6D1qLDE9A0=s0-d) |
Being/moving around something |
Idem oko kuće. "I'm going around the house."
Ruže rastu oko kuće. "Roses grow around the house." |
blizu + gen. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_v62UMxrBh5z3Ia0lsHd4TQZhIktFfTANXFgB_A54Z3D4u1ZJKTisNS2Tt6zRVr_jrfxl8DsV493fsxkHvR4ClPz3EwmKQi_HP48UB4GYGIPFcLCZIrT3Ca7HruReYxZ5H8XQ1pOAn2QQ=s0-d) |
Being/moving "near" something |
Ruže rastu blizu kuće. "Roses grow near the house." |
The following combinations also stand for both static locations and directions:
prep. + case | meaning | example |
prëko + gen. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tCBZZylgP4Sild-5Flj5aZIXdvCq8nmwPdxsaR6TY9rl4y7ccf5U4_0e1Y7Lpwq66hHkraYHC8jdfX-9RdDl8Et1ChtJsQVf_S8pqfxLBPh5xNVN2r0LEEInxABgUupLpS50aIoLgydQ=s0-d) |
Being over top of something, going to another side |
Idem prëko mosta. "I'm going over the bridge." |
ispod + gen. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uHE4WgGhoiG0TU7kLli7Vn2XbEfc4vd2Q5Y9L06aUEwR4lAS2jsldo4fmEivxojHQk2G7nVGEq5A0tOJIY2vIb2H4yRB9MFpmHRhLj4WdNAIxika8kiSek_pUn3OHYASGKXJd08zYnqA=s0-d) |
Location under something, "under" |
Mačka spava ispod kreveta. "The cat sleeps under the bed." |
iznad + gen. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sVJocm1Bxwdywvg4OyZPIeuwAsRQjsI-Jj1mqxaRnwTL6Qya4-2DsO-VaC2_E-59XXgO4EVwyRkvJl4iXyZgrQYBCgVoAQCMDUV059KILHPrJGsJBVpLAT9MK1qJg9eTnLBndXz54kkw=s0-d) |
Location above something, "above" |
Slika visi iznad kreveta. "The picture hangs above the bed." |
iza + gen. |
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_shN2Dr7RCvv0D5KxBX-1DKHn2u0E5B5i295msTBZYdBms3EqBhijLJjUTNKNHyH6W8pN3ypLD7w2bbQWGKYDN0kp3SmcWqlb7HPno3uQ3R5HbkOmEyTICj2ZX7oO9Dwx5LW90dZQ=s0-d) |
Location behind something, "behind" |
Ruže rastu iza kuće. "Roses grow behind the house. |
Prepositions prëd + dat. and iza + gen. have also meanings "before" and "after".
Non-spatial:
prep. + case | meaning | example |
s + ins. | company |
Pijem kavu s Anom. "I'm drinking coffee with Ana." |
bez + gen. | lack, opp. to company |
Otišli su bez mene. "They left without me." |
zbog + gen. radi + gen. | reason |
Kasnim zbog mägle. "I'm late because of the fog." |
o + dat. | "about" |
Razgovaramo o Ani. "We're talking about Ana." |
za + acc. | recipient |
Ovo je za mene. "This is for me." |
na + acc. | mode, "how" (with static verbs) |
Igračka radi na baterije "The toy runs on batteries" |
po + dat. | situation, "while" |
Šetali smo po kiši. "We walked in rain." |
po + dat. prema + dat. | "according to" | On ne igra po pravilima. "He's not playing by the rules." |
po + acc. | "to pick up", reason (with motion verbs) | Vratio säm se po ključ. "I returned to pick up the key." |
po + acc. | distribution |
Dobili su po 100 kuna. "They got 100 kuna each." |
acc + po + acc. | iteration |
Dolaze jedan po jedan. "They're arriving one by one." |