posjeduju

Posjeduju is a verb form used in Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian that means “they possess” or “they own.” It is the third-person plural present tense of the verb posjedovati (to possess, to own). The form is commonly employed to indicate possession of objects, property, rights, or resources. In everyday and formal language, posjeduju often appears in statements about ownership or control, for example: Oni posjeduju kuću u centru grada (They own a house in the city center).

Etymology and grammar notes: posjedovati is derived from the noun posjed, meaning possession or property, with the typical Slavic verb suffix -ovati to form an infinitive. The present-tense paradigm of posjedovati includes: ja posjedujem, ti posjeduješ, on/ona/ono posjeduje, mi posjedujemo, vi posjedujete, oni posjeduju. The verb is imperfective and describes current or habitual possession; past tense is formed with auxiliary biti and a participle (posjedovao/posjedovala/posjedovali). In legal or formal discourse, posjedovati can convey formal ownership or entitlement beyond casual having.

Usage and nuance: While synonyms like imati describe possession in a broader sense, posjedovati implies a more stable or legally recognized ownership. It frequently appears in property law, business, and political or administrative language, as well as in everyday speech.

Examples: Oni posjeduju nekoliko automobila. (They own several cars.) Država posjeduje ta zemljišta. (The state owns those lands.) Ona posjeduje prava glasa. (She possesses voting rights.)

See also: posjed (possession, property), posjedovanje (ownership), ownership in Slavic legal terminology.