Zajednikim

Zajednikim is not a standard lemma in Croatian, Bosnian, or Serbian. In practice, it is most likely a non-diacritic variant or a mistaken form related either to zajedničkim, the instrumental form of the adjective zajednički meaning joint or common, or to zajednik, the noun meaning co-owner. The exact meaning depends on which word was intended.

Etymology and forms. The underlying roots are zajednik (co-owner) and zajednički (joint, common). The orthography and declension differ between these roots. If the intent is the noun zajednik, the instrumental plural is typically zajednicima (with the co-owners). If the intent is the adjective zajednički, the instrumental form is zajedničkim (used with a noun in the instrumental case, e.g., zajedničkim sredstvima “with joint means”). A form like zajednikim would be nonstandard and rarely encountered in prescriptive usage.

Usage. In formal or standard texts, it is advisable to use the unambiguous forms: zajedničkim for joint/collective actions or means, and zajednik or zajednicima for references to a co-owner or several co-owners, respectively. Misplaced or diacritic-free forms such as zajednikim can cause confusion and are generally considered incorrect in standard orthography.

See also. zajednik (co-owner), zajednički (joint/common), zajedništvo (community or joint ownership).

References. Standard Serbo-Croatian dictionaries and grammar guides list the conventional forms zajednički, zajedničkim, zajednik, and zajednicima; zajednikim is not typically acknowledged as a standard form.