Sound Change: k, g, h to č, ž, š

Palatalization

Level 3

k, g, h become č, ž, š before -e.

How It Works

Another sound change happens before the ending -e:

  • k becomes č
  • g becomes ž
  • h becomes š

You can see it in the vocative of masculine nouns:

NominativeVocative
junak (hero)junače
drug (friend)druže
BogBože
vojnikvojniče

The same pattern runs through some present-tense verbs: mogu but možeš, može; peku but pečeš, peče.

This is a strong tendency, not a rule that covers every word. Some names and borrowed words skip the change. Compare the entry on k g h before -i, which changes them to different sounds (c, z, s). Think of it as two separate rules: -i gives c z s, and -e gives č ž š.

Examples (5)

  1. Druže, dođi ovamo!

    Friend, come here!

    Drug becomes druže in the vocative.

  2. Bože, kako je hladno!

    God, it is so cold!

    Bog becomes Bože.

  3. Ti možeš doći sutra.

    You can come tomorrow.

    Mogu becomes možeš.

  4. Ona peče pitu.

    She is baking a pie.

    The stem pek- becomes peč- before -e.

  5. Vojniče, stani!

    Soldier, stop!

    Vojnik becomes vojniče.

Common Mistakes

  • Not changing the consonant.

    Mogeš doći.
    Možeš doći.

    The g changes to ž before -e, so mogu becomes možeš.

How It Connects

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

Sound Change: k, g, h to č, ž, šLevel 3Palatalization

Learn This First

Sound changes happen before endings.