Bojovati

Bojovati is a verb found in Serbo-Croatian languages such as Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian. It means to engage in combat, to wage war, or to fight. The term can describe physical fighting as well as broader struggles, including metaphorical battles like fighting against disease, corruption, or injustice. In contemporary usage it appears in formal or literary contexts, but is understood in everyday speech as well, although speakers often use boriti se for more general or less formal fighting.

Etymology and form: Bojovati derives from the noun boj, meaning battle or fight, with the verbal suffix -ovati that forms infinitives of transitive verbs. The root boj is of Proto-Slavic origin and is cognate with related terms for fighting across Slavic languages.

Usage notes: Bojovati is a regular -ovati verb and follows standard conjugation patterns of Serbo-Croatian verbs. It is common in historical, military, or formal texts and in modern discourse when a precise or emphatic sense of combat is intended. Typical phrases include bojovati protiv neprijatelja (to wage war against the enemy) and bojovati za prava (to fight for rights). It can also be used figuratively, as in bojovati protiv bolesti (to fight against illness).

Translations and related terms: The primary translations are “to fight,” “to wage war,” and “to combat.” Related nouns and verbs include boj (battle), bitka (fight), and boriti se (to struggle), which is often used for more general or personal conflicts.