specijalac

Specijalac is a colloquial term used in Bosnian, Croatian, Montenegrin and Serbian to denote a member of a special forces or elite police unit, or more generally a person with specialized skills. The word derives from specijalno, meaning “special,” with the suffix -ac indicating a person associated with something. In everyday language, specijalac can refer to soldiers, police officers, or plainclothes agents who work in special operations, counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, or reconnaissance. The exact meaning depends on country, era, and context, and may range from a formal designation of an official unit to a slang label for someone regarded as an expert.

In practice, specijalci undergo rigorous selection and training, focusing on weapons, tactics, high-risk procedures, physical fitness, and operational security. They operate within military or interior ministry structures and may perform direct-action missions, surveillance, crisis response, explosive ordnance disposal support, or specialized advisory roles. Equipment and rules of engagement vary by national doctrine and unit.

Culturally, the term is common in media reporting and public discourse and can carry positive, neutral, or pejorative connotations, reflecting attitudes toward militarized policing, secrecy, and violence. The term is largely country- and context-specific and not uniformly used across all South Slavic-speaking regions.

See also: Special forces, Elite unit.