promjena

Promjena is a noun in Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian and other South Slavic languages meaning change, alteration, modification, or transformation. It denotes the process by which something becomes different in its state, form, or condition. The word is derived from the verb promijeniti (“to change”), which in turn comes from a Slavic root meaning to change, with various derivational prefixes. Cognate forms appear across the family, such as promjena or promena in some varieties and zmiana in Polish.

In everyday language, promjena refers to any alteration or transition, from weather and climate to schedules, prices, or personal circumstances. In science and philosophy, the term is used to describe transformation, evolution of states, or qualitative shifts. In economics and management, phrases like promjena vrijednosti (change in value) or promjena procesa (change of process) appear when discussing modifications to systems, policies, or practices. The concept also lends itself to discussions of stability, continuity, and the pace of transition.

In political and social discourse, promjena is frequently employed as a slogan or category for reform and modernization efforts, indicating a shift away from established norms or institutions. Its usage reflects a broad, spectrum-based view of making things different, whether gradually through policy adjustments or more rapidly through structural changes. The term emphasizes process and result, encapsulating both the act of becoming different and the new state that follows.

See also: promijeniti, mijenjati, promjena klime, klimatska promjena.