Suavizam

Suavizam is a linguistic and stylistic term used in Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, and Montenegrin to describe the process or result of softening speech or writing. Derived from a root meaning soft or gentle, and formed with the nominal suffix -izam, suavizam denotes choosing milder expressions, paraphrase, euphemistic substitutions, or less direct syntax to reduce force, offense, or harshness in communication. In practice, it can operate at the level of lexicon, syntax, and discourse strategies.

In usage, suavizam appears across domains such as journalism, politics, diplomacy, education, and everyday conversation. It may involve replacing blunt terms with milder ones, using hedges (perhaps, possibly), adopting passive constructions, or employing indirect questions to avoid blunt statements. It is often discussed in relation to politeness strategies and rhetorical flexibility, as well as to euphemism, reframing, and tone management.

Historically, suavizam has been shaped by media norms, institutional language policies, and cultural expectations about politeness and consensus. In some periods, it served to reduce social tension or to align discourse with ideological or institutional standards; in others, it was a tool for persuasion or self-presentation.

See also: Euphemism, Politeness theory, Pragmatics, Discourse analysis.