rijeke

Rijeke is the plural form of rijeka in Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian, meaning rivers. The singular rijeka denotes a natural watercourse that generally flows from higher to lower elevations, collecting water from tributaries and ultimately emptying into a sea, a lake, or another river. Rivers are central objects of study in geography and hydrology and play a key role in ecosystems, settlements, and transportation.

The term rijeka is part of the South Slavic language family; cognates appear across related languages, for example Slovenian reka. The etymology traces back to Proto-Slavic roots referring to flowing water or watercourses.

In usage, rijeke are described by their course, source, tributaries, length, and discharge. They shape landscapes through erosion and sediment transport, support habitats for aquatic and terrestrial species, and provide water for agriculture, industry, and cities. Human communities along rijeke have historically relied on them for irrigation, navigation, and cultural meaning, and many rivers are significant in local lore and national geography.

Note: Rijeka (with capital R) is also a proper name for a city and port in Croatia; the term rijeka should not be confused with this place name when used in capitalization. The English translation of rijeke is rivers.