Ljubavnica
Ljubavnica is a feminine noun used in several South Slavic languages, including Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, and Montenegrin. It designates a woman who is romantically involved with a man who is married or otherwise unavailable, typically as an extramarital partner. The term generally carries the sense of secrecy or social stigma and is most often used in descriptive or moralizing contexts rather than neutral characterization.
Etymology and form: the word derives from the root ljubav, meaning love, and is related to the
Usage and connotations: in everyday speech, ljubavnica can describe a historical figure, a literary character, or
Relation to equivalents in other languages: in English, the closest equivalents are mistress or paramour, though
Notes: while primarily associated with heterosexual relationships, the term reflects traditional gendered expectations in the cultures