Kriterije

Kriterije is a noun form found in some South Slavic languages, used as the plural of kriterij, which means criterion or standard. In practice, it refers to multiple standards or requirements used to judge, select, or evaluate something, such as a proposal, project, or product. The term appears in contexts where a list of evaluating factors is discussed or applied.

Etymology and cognates

Kriterij is a borrowed term in languages such as Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian, derived from the word criterion. The concept originates from the Greek kriterion and has spread through Latin and various European languages. In standard forms, the nominative plural is kriteriji, while the form kriterije can occur in other grammatical cases (for example, as accusative plural) or in certain dialects.

Grammatical notes

Kriterije is typically encountered as an inflected form rather than a base noun. The base term is kriterij; standard plural in nominative position is kriteriji. Kriterije may appear in sentences requiring the accusative plural, especially after prepositions that govern the case, such as za (for) or o (about). In multilingual or translated texts, kriterije may be used to render the plural “criteria” where the language’s grammar dictates the form.

Usage

In evaluation and decision-making, kriterije are the listed standards used to assess options. Examples include quality, cost, feasibility, and risk. The term is often paired with phrases like kriterije za ocjenjivanje or kriterije za izbor, translating to “criteria for evaluation” or “criteria for selection.”

See also

criteria, criterion, kriterij, kriteriji, Slavic grammar.