preporuka

Preporuka is a noun used in several South Slavic languages, including Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, and Montenegrin. It denotes the act of recommending something or someone, as well as what is recommended—a suggestion, endorsement, or piece of guidance. The term can also refer to a letter of recommendation or endorsement written to support a person, a product, or a proposal.

Etymology and form: Preporuka is formed from the verb preporučiti, meaning to recommend or to endorse, with the common noun suffix -ka. The word is widely employed across formal and informal registers and is closely related to related terms like preporučiti (to recommend) and preporučena, meaning recommended.

Usage and contexts: In everyday speech, people use it to express endorsements or guidance, for example, "Moja preporuka za restoran je La Pergola" (My recommendation for a restaurant is La Pergola). In academic or professional settings, a "preporuka" can be a letter of recommendation or a written endorsement for a candidate. In consumer and digital contexts, the term is common in phrases such as "preporučeni proizvodi" or "preporučeni sadržaj," referring to items or content suggested by algorithms or curators.

Cultural and regional notes: The word is standard across the major South Slavic languages with minor spelling or diacritic variations (preporuka, preporučena, preporučiti). While it often conveys a positive endorsement, it can also denote a formal suggestion or recommendation within institutions, businesses, or media. In everyday life, it remains a practical term for guidance, trust-based suggestions, and promotional references.