Zadravanja

Zadravanja is the plural form of zadržavanje, a noun used in several South Slavic languages (Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, Montenegrin) to denote the act of holding back, delaying, keeping in custody, or retaining something. The term covers a range of senses from legal and administrative detention to broader notions of retention or obstruction. It derives from the verb zadržati, meaning to hold back or keep.

Linguistically, zadržavanje is built from za- (a prefix indicating separation or completion) and držati (to hold). In everyday language it can refer to postponing a decision, withholding information, or preserving a resource. The plural zadravanja is used when speaking of multiple instances or types of such acts.

In legal and administrative contexts, zadravanja most commonly refers to temporary custody or detention by authorities. This can include police or border-control holding a person for a limited period while the grounds for further action are assessed. The exact rules, permitted duration, and rights of the detained person—such as notification of reasons, access to legal counsel, and the possibility of challenge—are determined by national or regional law and can vary significantly between jurisdictions.

Beyond law, zadržavanje appears in other domains. For example, customs or administrative bodies may impose zadržavanje robe (holding or withholding goods). In medicine, terms like zadržavanje mokraće (urinary retention) or zadržavanje tekućine (fluid retention) denote clinical conditions. In environmental or civil contexts, zadržavanje can describe water retention in soil, a reservoir, or a similar system.

See also: zadržavanje, držati, zadržati.