Povrata

Povrata is a noun used in Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian with meanings related to returning, such as a return of goods or money. In everyday and formal language it can refer to a refund, reconciliation, or the act of returning to a place or state. The form povrata commonly appears as the genitive singular of the noun povrat, from which povrata is derived in various phrases and constructions.

Etymologically, povrata derives from the root povrat-, linked to the verb povratiti or povratati, meaning to return. The related noun povratak denotes the act or process of returning, while povrata serves as a grammatical form that enables expression of return-related relations (for example, in phrases indicating what is returned or reimbursed).

In usage, povrata appears in contexts such as commerce and administration. Examples include povrata robe (the return of goods), povrata novca (a monetary refund), or povrata poreza (tax refund). In many cases the exact sense depends on the accompanying noun in the genitive, clarifying what is being returned or repaid.

Distinctions with similar terms exist. Povrata is closely tied to povrat, particularly in its genitive form, and may be preferred in fixed expressions or legal-language contexts. Povratak, in contrast, more often designates the act or moment of returning itself rather than the object returned.

See also: povrat, povratak, povrata robe, tax refund terminology in South Slavic languages.