opominjati

Opominjati is a verb in the Serbo-Croatian languages (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian) meaning to admonish, remind, or warn someone. It is used for pointing out a fault, urging someone to follow rules, or reminding someone of obligations. The nuance can range from a gentle reminder to a formal warning, depending on context and intonation.

Etymology and form: Opominjati derives from the noun opomena, meaning a warning or reminder, with the typical Slavic verb-forming suffix -jati to yield an imperfective verb. The perfective counterpart is opomenuti, which denotes a single, often decisive admonishment. As an imperfective verb, opominjati often conveys repeated or ongoing admonition rather than a one-off act.

Conjugation and usage: In the present tense, common forms include opominjem (I admonish), opominjaš (you admonish), opominje (he/she admonishes), opominjemo (we admonish), opominjate (you all admonish), opominjuju (they admonish). The imperfective nature allows it to describe repeated reminders, while opomenuti would be used for a completed admonition. Related expressions include upozoriti (to warn) and podsjetiti (to remind in a gentler sense).

Examples: Učitelj opominje učenike da poštuju pravila. On me opominje da platim račun. Opominjati se može koristiti i ironically to indicate nagging, depending on tone and context.

See also: opomena, opomenuti, upozoriti, podsjetiti. The term is widely used in formal and informal speech and appears in dictionaries and literature as part of standard vocabulary in these languages.