odnos

Odnos is a noun in Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian that denotes a relationship or connection between people, objects, or concepts. It also has a broader mathematical and conceptual sense, referring to a ratio or proportion and to attitudes or stances toward something. The term thus covers interpersonal ties, logical or causal relationships, and evaluative orientations.

In everyday use, odnos expresses how entities relate to each other. Examples include relationships among family members, the dynamics of social groups, or a person’s attitude toward work. In academic or technical contexts, it can specify the nature of a relationship between variables, such as the odnos između potrošnje i dohotka (the relation between consumption and income).

In mathematics and science, odnos is the standard term for a ratio or comparative value, used when describing the proportion between two quantities, for instance the odnos dužine i širine (ratio of length to width) or the odnos dvaju veličina (the relation between two quantities).

In social sciences and international contexts, odnos is used to discuss interactions and power dynamics, as in međunarodni odnosi (international relations) or balans snaga (balance of power). It also appears in philosophy and linguistics to indicate relational concepts between ideas or linguistic elements.

Etymology: the word originates in South Slavic languages and has cognates across Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian, reflecting a common Slavic heritage related to relation and connection. Related concepts include veza (bond or link) and povezanost (connectivity).