dobivanje

Dobivanje is a noun used in Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian to denote the act or process of obtaining or acquiring something. It is commonly translated into English as obtaining or acquisition and appears in formal, administrative, and technical language.

Etymology and form: The word is derived from the verb dobiti (to obtain or receive) with the nominalizing suffix -ivanje, yielding a noun that names the process of attainment. It is used with a wide range of objects, for example “dobivanje podataka” (obtaining data), “dobivanje licence” (obtaining a license), or “dobivanje kredita” (obtaining a loan).

Nuances and usage: “Dobivanje” emphasizes the action or procedure of securing something rather than the result itself. In formal writing, it can be paired with nouns such as “dobivanje informacija” or “dobivanje dozvole” to describe the required steps. Depending on context, synonyms like “stjecanje” (acquisition), “pribavljanje” (procurement), or “nabava” (procurement) may be preferred, especially when the focus is on rights, status, or organizational procurement. In everyday language, speakers may also use the verb dobiti in phrases such as “dobiti nešto” to describe the outcome.

Related terms include stjecanje, pribavljanje, and nabava, which are used in similar contexts but carry slightly different nuances.