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I can speak Croatian

Finnish translation: puhun kroatiaa

02:05 Mar 16, 2006
English to Finnish translations [Non-PRO]
Tourism & Travel
English term or phrase: I can speak Croatian
I am able to speak Croatian...
italianissimo
Finnish translation:puhun kroatiaa
Explanation:
kroatia, Croatian
kroatiaa (partitive)

Selected response from:

Desmond O'Rourke
United States
Local time: 01:19
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +4puhun kroatiaa
Desmond O'Rourke
4 +1Osaan puhua kroatiaa.
Alfa Trans (X)


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
i can speak croatian
puhun kroatiaa


Explanation:
kroatia, Croatian
kroatiaa (partitive)



Desmond O'Rourke
United States
Local time: 01:19
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jussi Rosti
2 hrs
  -> Thanks!
agree  Riikka Eriksson-Schulz
3 hrs
  -> Thank you!
agree  Kjelle
3 hrs
  -> Many thanks!
agree  Will Matter
28 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
i can speak croatian
Osaan puhua kroatiaa.


Explanation:
puhun kroatiaa = I speak Croatian
osaan puhua kroatiaa = I can speak Croatian. If it is a rare language like Croatian is (at least in Finland it is rare) it is more common to say "osaan puhua", emphasising the ability. The ability to speak a language is defined as being able to hold an everyday conversation in that language, but if you say e.g. "He is highly educated, so he speaks English", then it is a fact that is self-evident.

So, a foreigner would say: Osaan puhua suomea (Finnish IS a rare language and not many foreigners can say that), but a Finn usually says: Puhun suomea, ruotsia ja englantia = I speak Finnish, Swedish and English (it is quite common to speak these languages in Finland).

Alfa Trans (X)
Local time: 08:19
Works in field
Native speaker of: Finnish
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  JonathanBrown: A very interesting postulate pertaining to the distinction between these two structures. I agree with this postulate.
23 hrs
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