nesvjesno

Nesvjesno is an adverb used in Croatian, Serbian, and Bosnian to denote actions, thoughts, or processes that occur without conscious awareness. It translates roughly as "unconsciously" and contrasts with svjesno, meaning "consciously" or "knowingly." The term is commonly found in everyday speech as well as in literary and journalistic writing.

Etymology: The word is formed by adding the negating prefix ne- to svjesno, which stems from svjesan "aware" and ultimately from the noun svijest "consciousness." The masculine adjective form nesvjesan exists, while nesvjesno functions as an adverb.

Usage and nuance: Nesvjesno describes behavior or mental events that happen without deliberate intent or awareness. It can apply to actions, memories, or perceptions that the individual does not recognize at the moment. In casual language it is often used interchangeably with podsvjesno (subconsciously), though in psychology the latter term is more common for subpersonal processes.

Nesvjesnost is the corresponding noun meaning "unconsciousness" or "lack of awareness." Related concepts include svjesnost (awareness) and podsvijest (subconscious), which appear in both everyday language and more technical discussions.

See also: svjesnost, nesvjesnost, podsvijest, psihologija.