odgovor

Odgovor is a masculine noun in Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, and Montenegrin, meaning a response or reply to a question, statement, or problem. It refers to the act of answering as well as the content of that answer. The term is also used in Slovenian, Macedonian, and Bulgarian with cognate forms and in technical contexts to denote a response, such as a computer or protocol reply.

Etymology and cognates: The word comes from the prefix od- paired with govor, meaning speech or talk (Proto-Slavic *govorъ). It carries the sense of a response issued in reply to something previously stated. The concept exists in related Slavic languages with similar forms, such as odgovoR in various languages and aligns with the verb odgovoriti (to answer).

Usage: In everyday language, odgovor is the standard word for an answer to a question or task. The related verb is odgovoriti, meaning to answer. Phrases include dobiti odgovor (to receive an answer) and dati odgovor (to give an answer). In formal or technical contexts, it often means a response from a system, person, or organization, for example an HTTP odgovor (HTTP response).

Grammar: In Croatian, Serbian, and Bosnian, odgovor is masculine and declines by case: singular (nominative odgovor, genitive odgovora, dative odgovoru, accusative odgovor, instrumental odgovorom, locative odgovoru); plural (nominative odgovori, genitive odgovora, dative odgovorima, accusative odgovore, instrumental odgovorima, locative odgovorima). The definite article is not used as a separate suffix in these languages.

See also: govor; odgovoriti.