Zabranjujemo

Zabranjujemo is the first-person plural present tense form of the Serbo-Croatian verb zabraniti, meaning to prohibit or to ban. It is used to express that a policy, rule, or decision forbids a specified action or behavior. The form appears in Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, and Montenegrin and is common in both formal and informal contexts.

Formation and usage: The verb zabraniti is built with the prefix za- and a root related to prohibition. The present tense form zabranjujemo attaches the standard first-person plural ending to the stem, yielding the literal translation “we prohibit.” It governs a following noun clause or direct object representing what is prohibited, for example, zabranjujemo ulazak (we prohibit entry) or zabranjujemo pušenje (we prohibit smoking). In official texts, it may begin sentences or appear within regulations, codes, and notices.

Examples and nuance: Zabranjujemo is typically used in declarative statements in contexts such as institutions, workplaces, and public signage. It does not necessarily imply a universal prohibition beyond the defined scope of the rule; the exact limits are specified in the accompanying text. In more casual speech, speakers might use milder formulations such as “mi ne dopuštamo” (we do not permit) to convey a prohibition with softer nuance.

See also: zabraniti, zabrana, proba, prohibition.