Going: ići

Level 1

Idem means I am going. It is used for walking and for travelling by bus, car or train.

How It Works

Ići is one of the first verbs to learn, because it answers the question Kuda ideš? (Where are you going?).

PersonForm
jaidem
tiideš
on, ona, onoide
miidemo
viidete
oniidu

The endings are the regular -em set, so the pattern is easy. The place you go to follows u or na in the accusative: Idem u Mostar, Idem u školu. A feminine noun in -a changes to -u.

The past stem is different: išao, išla (he went, she went). You will meet it at Level 3.

Speakers use ići for going on foot and by vehicle. When the way matters, you can add it: Idem pješke (I walk) or Idem autobusom.

Examples (5)

  1. Idem kući.

    I am going home.

    Kući is a fixed word for going home.

  2. Lejla ide u školu.

    Lejla is going to school.

    Škola becomes školu after u.

  3. Idemo u Tuzlu.

    We are going to Tuzla.

    Idemo is the mi form, and Tuzla becomes Tuzlu.

  4. Da li ideš u grad?

    Are you going to town?

    Ideš is the ti form.

  5. Amir i Haris idu na posao.

    Amir and Haris are going to work.

    Idu is the form for oni.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the ja ending on the wrong person.

    Lejla idem u školu.
    Lejla ide u školu.

    The verb has to match the person doing the going.

  • Using the locative (the place where you are) when you mean the place you are going to.

    Idem u školi.
    Idem u školu.

    Going toward a place takes the accusative (školu), not the locative (školi).

How It Connects

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

Going: ićiLevel 1

Learn This First

Idem is the present of a motion verb.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

ići