ovdje / tu / ondje

Here and There

Level 1

Ovdje commonly means here near the speaker. Tu can refer to the listener’s location or an established place, and ondje points farther away.

How It Works

Ovdje often points to the place from which someone is speaking. Tu can locate something by the listener or refer back to a place already established. Ondje provides a more distant location.

The distinctions are useful starting points rather than exact measurements. Tu is especially flexible in conversation. Speakers can also shift the reference point when describing a map, photograph or remembered scene.

Location is different from destination or route. When a later exercise asks which movement question to use, distinguish gdje, kamo and kuda rather than assuming one English where maps to one Croatian word in every context.

Examples (3)

  1. Ovdje je mirno.

    It is quiet here.

    Ovdje points to the speaker’s location.

  2. Ostani tu.

    Stay there.

    Tu identifies the place already relevant to the listener.

  3. Ondje je škola.

    The school is over there.

    Ondje gives a more distant location.

How It Connects

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ovdje / tu / ondjeLevel 1Here and There

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Words in This Pattern

tuondje