za + Accusative

For

Level 2

Za plus the accusative means for someone, for a price, or in a stretch of time from now.

How It Works

The little word za has three common jobs with the accusative.

  • For a person: Ovo je za tebe. Kupio sam poklon za mamu.
  • In exchange for: Platila sam pet maraka za pitu.
  • Time from now: Vraćam se za sat. (I am back in an hour.)
WhoAfter za
memene
youtebe
himnjega
hernju
us, you (plural), themnas, vas, njih

Feminine nouns in -a take -u: mama becomes mamu. Masculine nouns and names for people add -a, the same form as the genitive: za Amira.

Za has other meanings too, covered in other entries.

Examples (4)

  1. Ovo je za tebe.

    This is for you.

    Ti becomes tebe after za.

  2. Kupio sam poklon za mamu.

    I bought a present for Mum.

    Mama becomes mamu.

  3. Platila sam pet maraka za pitu.

    I paid five marks for the pie.

    Za shows the exchange.

  4. Vraćam se za sat.

    I will be back in an hour.

    Za sat means an hour from now.

Common Mistakes

  • Learners keep the nominative of the pronoun.

    Ovo je za ti.
    Ovo je za tebe.

    After za, a pronoun takes the accusative form: tebe.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

za + AccusativeLevel 2For

Learn This First

Za takes the accusative.

Words in This Pattern

zaakuzativ