veriga

Veriga is a noun used in several South Slavic languages, most commonly meaning a physical chain composed of interconnected links. It denotes a flexible, load-bearing connector used for binding, securing, lifting, or towing. The word is part of everyday vocabulary in languages such as Slovenian, Croatian, and Serbian, where it can describe both small hand tools and larger, industrial chains.

Beyond its literal sense, veriga is widely used in figurative language to indicate a sequence or linked set of items, events, or factors. Common usages include chain of events (veriga događaja) and chain of causes or influences (veriga vzrokov or similar constructions, depending on the language). In this figurative sense, the term emphasizes interconnection and dependability among elements.

Etymology and cognates: veriga is cognate across several Slavic languages, reflecting a shared linguistic heritage for the concept of linking or chaining. While pronunciation and exact usage vary by language, the core idea of connected links remains consistent.

In specialized contexts, veriga can appear in discussions of mechanics, construction, or transportation when referring to physical chains. In computing or broader technical discourse, the term for “chain” is typically handled with different words in these languages, and veriga is more commonly reserved for physical or figurative chains.

See also: chain, chain of custody, chain of events.