Neuter Nouns

Level 1

Neuter nouns end in -o or -e and take neuter partners such as moje.

How It Works

Neuter is the smallest of the three groups. These nouns usually end in -o or -e.

EndingExamples
-oselo (village), pismo (letter), mlijeko (milk), vino (wine)
-emore (sea), dijete (child), vrijeme (time), sunce (sun)

Adjectives follow with -o or -e: veliko selo, malo dijete, moje more. The ending of the adjective helps you hear the gender.

Some place names in -o are neuter too. Sarajevo is neuter, so you use lijepo Sarajevo. Other words ending in -o, such as men's names like Marko, are masculine. Check the partners before you decide.

Examples (5)

  1. Selo je malo.

    The village is small.

    Selo is neuter, so the adjective ends in -o.

  2. More je plavo.

    The sea is blue.

    More ends in -e and takes plavo.

  3. Dijete spava.

    The child is sleeping.

    Dijete is neuter, though it names a person.

  4. Sarajevo je lijepo.

    Sarajevo is beautiful.

    The city name in -o is neuter.

  5. Pismo je na stolu.

    The letter is on the table.

    Pismo ends in -o.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a feminine adjective with a neuter noun.

    Selo je mala.
    Selo je malo.

    Selo is neuter, so the adjective ends in -o.

How It Connects

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

Neuter NounsLevel 1

Learn This First

Neuter nouns follow from knowing there are three genders.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

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