dođi ovamo
To say "come here" in Croatian, use dođi ovamo.
This phrase is a command used to tell someone to move toward the speaker's current location.
What does it mean word for word?
dođi is the imperative command form of the verb doći, meaning "to come" and ovamo means "here", specifically indicating movement towards the speaker's location.
Which one should you use?
Use ovamo when there is movement toward the speaker, whereas ovdje is used to describe being at a static location.
How does it change in a sentence?
dođi ovamo is the singular imperative, used when speaking to one person in an informal setting. To address more than one person, or to speak to one person in a polite or formal manner, use dođite ovamo.
Did you know?
- If you use the singular dođi ovamo with a stranger or an elder, it can sound unintentionally rude or even aggressive, similar to ordering a servant around.
- While dođi ovamo is the standard command, Croatians often beckon someone by making a gesture with their hand that moves toward the body, which can be paired with a short dođi.
- The word ovamo is an ancient relic from Proto-Slavic, a common ancestor to many Slavic languages, meaning its roots are much older than the modern Croatian state.
Examples in context
- Gospodine, dođite ovamo, molim vas.Sir, come here, please.
- Molim vas, dođite ovamo na trenutak.Please come here for a moment.
- Dođi ovamo, imam nešto za tebe!Come here, I have something for you!
- Mama, dođi ovamo, trebam tvoju pomoć.Mom, come here, I need your help.
- Dođi ovamo brzo!Come here quickly!
- Molim te, dođi ovamo.Please, come here.
- Dođi ovamo i pogledaj ovo.Come here and look at this.
Example conversation
Ana calls Ivan to show him something in the garden.
- AnaIvane, dođi ovamo!Ivan, come here!
- IvanŠto je bilo, Ana?What happened, Ana?
- AnaDođi ovamo i vidi ovu pticu.Come here and see this bird.
- IvanVidi, baš je lijepa.Look, it is really beautiful.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ovamo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
