kazna

Kazna is a word found in several Slavic languages with different meanings depending on the language. In South Slavic languages such as Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian and Montenegrin, kazna denotes punishment or a penalty imposed for wrongdoing. It is used in legal texts to describe sentences or fines and in everyday language to refer to sanctions or disciplinary measures, for example kazna zatvora (prison sentence) or kazna za prekršaj (penalty for an offense).

In contrast, in Russian and Bulgarian, the word kazna (казна) means treasury or exchequer—the funds held by the state or a public institution. It appears in historical, governmental, and bureaucratic contexts, such as the state treasury. The term is written in Cyrillic in these languages and may appear in compound phrases related to public finances or state resources.

The similarities among these terms reflect a common Slavic linguistic heritage, though semantic drift over centuries has produced distinct meanings in different languages. When encountering kazna, the surrounding language usually makes the intended meaning clear: punishment or penalty in South Slavic contexts, treasury in East Slavic and Bulgarian contexts.

See also: penalty, sanction, fines; treasury. Examples include kazna zatvora (prison sentence), kazna za prekršaj (penalty for a violation), and казна (treasury).