Obstajati

Obstajati is a verb found in several South Slavic languages, most prominently Slovenian, and also present in Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian varieties. It carries core meanings of existing, persisting, or remaining in effect. In existential statements it denotes that something exists; for example in Slovenian, "Ta zakon obstaja" means "This law exists." It can also express continuity or endurance over time, such as when describing traditions or conditions that continue to be true.

Etymology and related forms: The verb is built from a root related to the idea of standing or remaining, with a prefix that adds emphasis or continuity. The related noun obstoj denotes existence or durability and connects to the same semantic field.

Conjugation and variation: Obstajati behaves like a regular Slavic verb, with language-specific endings. In Slovenian present tense forms include obstajam, obstajaš, obstaja, obstajamo, obstajate, obstajajo. Other language varieties adjust endings according to their own conjugation patterns, but the core meaning remains the same: existence, persistence, or continued validity.

Usage and notes: Obstajati is used in both formal and informal contexts to refer to what exists or endures, as well as to describe the ongoing state of entities, conditions, or phenomena. It commonly appears in philosophical, legal, or everyday statements about existence or durability, and it can pair with nouns, adjectives, or clauses to express ongoing reality or continuity.