stvari

Stvari is a feminine noun used in Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian. It is the plural of the base noun stvar, and it commonly means "things" or "objects," but can also refer to matters, affairs, or situations. The exact sense depends on context, ranging from tangible items to more abstract topics.

In everyday speech, stvare often appear in phrases that clarify meaning, such as ovo, ove, te stvari (these/that matter or items). For example: Ove stvari su važne (These things are important). The word is flexible and participates in many idiomatic expressions, including references to tasks or issues to be dealt with.

Grammatically, stvar and its plural stvara are feminine nouns. There is no definite article in these languages, so definiteness is indicated by demonstratives or adjectives: ove stvari, te stvari, ili stvara u kontekstu. The plural form stvara is widely used in both formal and informal registers.

Etymology traces stvara to a Proto-Slavic root related to making or forming, which also gives rise to verbs such as stvarati (to create, to form) and stvaranje (creation). This shared root reflects a historical link between the concept of a “thing” and the act of making or bringing something into being.

See also: stvar (singular), stvaranje (creation), and related terms in Slavic languages. Stvari remains a core, versatile element of everyday vocabulary in the region, employed across media, literature, and speech to denote items, matters, or events.