prethodna

Prethodna is an adjective used in Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin, and Serbian to mean "previous" or "prior." It agrees with the noun in gender and number; the feminine singular form is prethodna, the masculine prethodni, and the neuter prethodno. The term is commonly employed in time references and in descriptions of events, states, or items that precede others, such as prethodna godina (the previous year) or prethodna veza (the former relationship).

Etymology: Prethodna derives from the prefix pre- meaning "before" combined with a root related to going or passing, via the older adjective prethodan. The form reflects historical Slavic patterns for words describing order or sequence and is cognate with equivalents in related South Slavic languages.

Usage notes: In everyday language prethodna can be used interchangeably with synonyms like prošla (for feminine nouns) or prethodni (masculine), depending on formality and regional preference. The choice follows standard gender agreement: prethodna with feminine singular nouns (prethodna stranica, prethodna godina), prethodni with masculine nouns (prethodni korak), and prethodno with neuter nouns (prethodno razdoblje).

Common contexts include time periods (prethodna subota, prethodna godina), sequences (prethodni korak), and descriptions of prior states or relationships (prethodna veza, prethodno stanje). The term is widely understood in written and spoken language and appears in news, official documents, and literary prose as a neutral, formal option for “previous.”