Aha! Learning Croatian: Vocabulary #011
Čak
The Croatian word čak competes with baš (Vocabulary Post 009 Baš) for the most expressive word in the Croatian language.
Čak has a number of meanings. Most commonly, it is used to mean even, - in a variety of ways, which I hope that I can demonstrate here through examples.
I have made my own categories of these different ways. The distinctions are not sharp. The categories are:
Listen up ..........
Čak has a number of meanings. Most commonly, it is used to mean even, - in a variety of ways, which I hope that I can demonstrate here through examples.
I have made my own categories of these different ways. The distinctions are not sharp. The categories are:
- To emphasize something extreme, or surprising (in affirmative and negative senses).
- Expressing conditional action.
- To express something extreme, with reference to some other action.
- To express phrases like ‘no less than’, or ‘as much as’.
- Čak štoviše – Emphasis upon emphasis.
Listen up ..........
Disclaimer: I don’t claim to be an expert in the Croatian language, nor that my pronunciation and accent are perfect, nor that my examples are comprehensive. Gross imperfections are clear to any native Croatian speaker.
I am just trying to provide insights into the challenges that I have experienced (and do experience still now). These might be interesting, or even useful, to you.
I am just trying to provide insights into the challenges that I have experienced (and do experience still now). These might be interesting, or even useful, to you.