opasnost

Opasnost is a noun in several Slavic languages meaning danger or hazard. In Russian the word is опасность, transliterated as opasnost, and is used in the exact same sense as danger. In South Slavic languages such as Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, and Macedonian, the term is opasnost. Across these languages, opasnost denotes the potential for harm that can arise from natural, technical, or human factors, ranging from everyday accidents to broader safety risks.

Etymology and related forms: The term is cognate across Slavic languages and derives from Proto-Slavic roots connected with fear, caution, and the need to prevent harm. Related words in the same families include opreznost (caution) and rizik (risk), which are used to differentiate levels of threat or likelihood.

Usage and context: Opasnost is commonly found in safety warnings, signage, and regulatory or technical texts. It informs readers or listeners about imminent or potential threats and often appears with additional information describing the source of danger (for example, electrical hazards, chemical hazards, or fire danger). In everyday speech, opasnost can describe situations posing physical danger or situational risk.

See also: Hazard, risk, safety signs, precaution, opreznost.