neki / nekoliko
Some and a Few
Neki, neka, neko agree with the noun; nekoliko means "a few" and takes the genitive plural.
How It Works
Use neki for an unknown or unnamed one: "some" or "a certain".
| Gender | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| masculine | neki | neki čovjek |
| feminine | neka | neka žena |
| neuter | neko | neko selo |
| plural | neki, neke, neka | neke žene |
Watch out: neko also stands alone as a pronoun meaning "somebody" (Neko zvoni.). With a neuter noun it is an adjective, neko selo.
Nekoliko means "several" or "a few" and never changes. The noun after it is in the genitive plural: nekoliko prijatelja, nekoliko kuća.
Compare with mnogo (many) and malo (few): they also take the genitive, mnogo prijatelja.
Examples (4)
- Neka žena pita za put.
A woman asks for directions.
Neka agrees with the feminine žena.
- Prošli smo kroz neko malo selo.
We passed through some little village.
Neko agrees with the neuter selo.
- Imam nekoliko pitanja.
I have a few questions.
Nekoliko takes the genitive plural.
- U avliji je nekoliko mačaka.
There are a few cats in the yard.
Mačaka is the genitive plural.
Common Mistakes
Learners leave the noun after nekoliko in the nominative plural.
nekoliko prijateljinekoliko prijateljaNekoliko needs the genitive plural.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Neki and nekoliko mean some.