izravno

Izravno is a common adverb in several South Slavic languages, including Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, and Slovenian. It generally translates as directly or straight, and is used to indicate that an action is performed without intermediaries, detours, or indirectness, or that something proceeds along a straight path.

Etymology and meaning: The word derives from the adjective ravno meaning straight or even, with the prefix iz- signaling emanation or directness. The combination yields a sense of directness, immediacy, or a straight course in both temporal and spatial senses.

Usage: In everyday language, izravno modifies verbs or phrases. For example, izravno govoriti means to speak directly, and ići izravno can mean to go straight ahead without turning. In journalistic or formal prose, phrases such as izravno iz izvora (directly from the source) are common. The term can also describe a spatial relation, indicating a straight line or direct route as opposed to an indirect one.

Regional notes: While the core meaning is consistent across Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, and Slovenian, pronunciation and usage may vary slightly by dialect. Izravno also appears in related compounds, such as izravnati (to flatten or level) or ravno (straight, even), which share the same semantic root.

See also: Direct, straight, straightness, indirect.