Doslovno

Doslovno is an adverb used in Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian to express that something should be understood literally or exactly as stated, often in the sense of a direct quotation or a word-for-word description. It translates to “literally” or “verbatim” in English and is commonly employed to emphasize factual accuracy or exact wording.

Etymology and meaning: the word derives from the adjective doslovan, meaning literal, which in turn comes from the Slavic roots related to words (slovo). The prefix or suffix elements reinforce the sense of correspondence to the spoken or written words themselves. As such, doslovno connotes a strict, non-interpretive rendering of what is being described or quoted.

Usage and nuance: in standard discourse, doslovno is used to introduce direct quotations or to stress precision, for example: Doslovno mi je rekao: "Idem odmah" (He literally told me, "I am leaving now"). It can also appear as an intensifier in informal speech, such as Ovo je doslovno neverovatno (This is literally unbelievable). In practice, speakers may use doslovno in a hyperbolic or metaphorical sense, though this is more about emphasis than a strict literal claim.

Related terms: doslovan (literal) is the corresponding adjective; the concept contrasts with figurative or loose translations, where the sense is not strictly word-for-word. In English and other languages, equivalents include “literally” and “word for word.”

See also: literal translation; word-for-word; emphasis in quotation.