Stress and Vowel Length

Level 1

Ordinary Croatian writing usually leaves stress and vowel length unmarked. Audio and dictionary accent marks supply information that the spelling alone does not show.

How It Works

Stress makes one syllable stand out. The traditional standard also distinguishes long and short syllables and rising and falling pitch patterns. Special dictionary signs represent these contrasts, but they are not normally written in messages or books.

Short unstressed words can join a neighbouring word into one stress group. For example, a short object pronoun can lean on the verb before it. This helps explain why clitic placement is not a rule about the second printed word.

For a new word, listen to its rhythm as well as each consonant. Do not add invented accent marks to normal spelling. Advanced study can introduce the notation and regional systems separately.

Examples (3)

  1. Čitam knjigu.

    I am reading a book.

    The spelling gives no accent marks; use the audio for stress.

  2. Volim ga.

    I like him.

    Short ga leans on the preceding material rather than bearing ordinary independent stress.

  3. Idem u školu.

    I am going to school.

    The preposition and following noun form a connected spoken group.