koliko

How Much or How Many

Level 2

Koliko means how much or how many. The noun after it is in the genitive.

How It Works

Koliko never changes. What changes is the noun after it.

  • Koliko košta pita? How much is the pita?
  • Koliko imaš braće i sestara? How many brothers and sisters do you have?
  • Koliko ti vremena treba? How much time do you need?

For things you count one by one, put the noun in the genitive plural: ljudi, godina, maraka, sati. For things you measure, use the genitive singular: kafe, hljeba, vremena.

A short question needs no noun at all: Koliko? or Koliko košta?

After koliko ljudi the verb can be singular neuter or plural (Koliko je ljudi došlo?), and a later entry covers it.

Koliko can also ask about size or distance: Koliko ima kilometara do Mostara?

Examples (4)

  1. Koliko košta pita?

    How much is the pita?

    Koliko stands alone with košta.

  2. Koliko imaš sestara?

    How many sisters do you have?

    Sestara is the genitive plural of sestra.

  3. Koliko vremena treba?

    How much time is needed?

    Vremena is the genitive singular of vrijeme.

  4. Koliko ima kilometara do Mostara?

    How many kilometres is it to Mostar?

    Kilometara is the genitive plural.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving the noun in the nominative.

    Koliko sestre imaš?
    Koliko sestara imaš?

    The noun after koliko is in the genitive.

  • Using the genitive singular for countable things.

    Koliko sat je?
    Koliko je sati?

    Countable things after koliko take the genitive plural.

How It Connects

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

kolikoLevel 2How Much or How Many

Learn This First

Koliko asks how much.

Words in This Pattern

kolikokoštati