Obavezno

Obavezno is a term used in Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, and Serbian to express obligation or necessity. Grammatically, it functions mainly as an adverb meaning “necessarily” or “as a requirement,” and it is frequently used to indicate that something must be done. The word is closely connected to the related noun obaveza (obligation) and the adjective obavezan (obligatory).

Etymology and forms: obavezno derives from the noun obaveza and the adjective obavezan. This family of words conveys duty or mandatory status across different grammatical genders and constructions, with obavezno serving as the adverbial form.

Usage and contexts: Obavezno appears in legal, administrative, educational, and everyday language to mark mandatory actions or requirements. Examples include phrases like “Obavezno pročitajte pravila” (It is mandatory to read the rules) and “Obavezni predmeti” (mandatory subjects). It can also modify nouns in compounds such as obavezni uslovi (mandatory conditions) or obavezno osiguranje (mandatory insurance). The opposite notion is neobavezno, meaning optional or not mandatory.

Notes: In addition to its formal use, obavezno is common in instructional and procedural texts, announcements, and guidelines. It is distinct from related terms such as obaveznost (the quality of being obligatory) and from casual synonyms that may convey varying degrees of necessity. In everyday speech, obavezno emphasizes a requirement that listeners are expected to follow.