How are Shtokavian, Chakavian, and Kajkavian Croatian dialects different?

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The Shtokavian, Chakavian, and Kajkavian dialects are the three primary groups of the Croatian language, distinguished primarily by the interrogative pronoun used for "what" (što, ča, and kaj, respectively). Beyond this nomenclature, these dialects differ in their vowels, consonants, word forms, and vocabulary.12

  • Shtokavian: This dialect uses the form što (or šta) for "what." It is the most widely spoken of the three, serving as the basis for the standard Croatian literary language. It is spoken throughout inland Croatia, as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro.312
  • Chakavian: This dialect uses the form ča for "what." It is primarily spoken in western Croatia, including the Adriatic coast, the region of Dalmatia, Istria, and various Adriatic islands. A distinct literature developed in this dialect as early as the 15th century.12
  • Kajkavian: This dialect uses the form kaj for "what." It is spoken in northwestern Croatia, particularly in the region surrounding the capital, Zagreb. It shares some linguistic features with the Slovene language.12