potreban

Potreban is an adjective used in Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian to mean "necessary," "needed," or "required." It describes something that is needed or essential. The word is commonly used in formal or neutral contexts to indicate a necessity, requirement, or obligation.

Potreban agrees with the gender and number of the noun it modifies. Typical base forms include potreban (masculine singular), potrebna (feminine singular), and potrebno (neuter singular). When referring to multiple items or people, form changes occur according to the noun’s gender and number. In everyday usage, you may encounter constructions such as "Nama je potreban doktor" (We need a doctor) or "Informacija je potrebna" (The information is required). The phrase "po potrebi" means "as needed" or "as required."

Etymology-wise, potreban derives from the noun potreba, meaning need or requirement, which in turn relates to the verb trebati or trebati/trebati meaning "to need." The development of the adjective reflects a common South Slavic pattern of forming participial adjectives from nouns denoting necessity.

Related terms include potreba (need, requirement), neophodan (absolutely essential, indispensable), and nepotreban (unnecessary). These terms are widely understood across Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian, though usage can vary slightly by dialect or register. In formal writing and official language, potreban is frequently used to express obligations, conditions, or requirements in a concise, neutral way.