ljubiti

Ljubiti is a verb used in several South Slavic languages, most commonly Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, and Montenegrin. The primary meaning in these languages is “to kiss,” as in expressing affection or greeting someone with a kiss. In standard usage, the verb that expresses romantic love is voljeti (Croatian) or voleti (Serbian and Bosnian). In everyday speech, ljubiti is therefore usually limited to kissing, while voljeti/ voleti covers the sense of loving someone.

Conjugation and usage: In the present indicative tense, the first-person singular is ljubim, the second-person singular is ljubiš, the third-person singular is ljubi, the first-person plural is ljubimo, the second-person plural is ljubite, and the third-person plural is ljube. The verb participates in ordinary verbal syntax, with object pronouns placed after the verb in many constructions, e.g., Ljubim te (I kiss you). The imperative form is ljubi (kiss!), or ljubite (you all kiss) depending on the subject.

Etymology and linguistic notes: Ljubiti comes from Proto-Slavic roots shared with related terms for affection in the region. It is cognate with similar forms in other Slavic languages, though the exact meaning can differ: in many languages the corresponding verb relates to affection or love, while in the South Slavic languages it is specifically “to kiss.” The distinction between kissing and loving is commonly expressed by using ljubiti for the kiss and voljeti/ voleti for love.

See also: voljeti/ voleti, lovers and affection in Slavic languages, kiss as a social gesture.