Komune

Komune is a term used in several languages to denote a local administrative unit or a community. It is a cognate of the English word commune and the Italian comune, and appears in different spellings depending on language. The root is Latin communis, meaning common or shared.

In Albanian, komunë denotes a municipality or local community; in Romanian, the corresponding term is comună for a rural commune. Italian use of comune refers to the basic local government unit, the municipality. In other Romance- and Balkan-language contexts, cognate forms reflect the same underlying concept of a self-governing locality or a defined community.

Beyond official administration, the word (in its various spellings) also denotes groups organized around shared residence or purpose, including intentional communities or political collectives historically described as communes. The precise powers, size, and structure of a commune vary by country and legal framework, ranging from small village communities to larger municipal districts.

Because spelling and usage vary by language, "komune" can appear as a transliteration, in diaspora writing, or as a place name in some regions. Context is important to determine whether it refers to a current administrative unit, a historical designation, or a community-forming concept. In most cases, it is closely related to the broader concept of local government and communal organization found in many countries.