Instrumentalni

Instrumentalni is an adjective used in several Slavic languages to denote two related ideas: anything pertaining to the instrumental in grammar, and anything performed or produced by instruments in music and culture. In grammar, the phrase instrumentalni padež (instrumental case) is common, where instrumentalni describes the case itself or things expressed in that case. In music, instrumentalni describes works or ensembles that are performed without vocal parts.

In grammatical descriptions, instrumentalni padež marks the instrument or means by which an action is carried out. The form of instrumentalni changes to agree with gender and number in nouns and other words. For example, in many South Slavic languages a noun in instrumental singular may take a distinct ending, and phrases such as "pisati olovkom" (to write with a pencil) illustrate the instrumental means of action. Instrumentalni is thus a label used when discussing case forms and the role of instruments or means in a sentence.

In music and culture, instrumentalni is used to describe pieces or performances that rely on instruments rather than voice. An instrumentalni komad or instrumentalni koncert emphasizes instrumental timbre, texture, and technique.

Etymology and cognates trace instrumentalni to the Latin instrumentum, via Proto-Slavic and early Slavic languages. The term is closely related to the broader concept of the instrumental case and to adjectives describing musical or practical means.

See also: Instrumental case, Padež, Instrumental music.