vlasnik

Vlasnik is a noun used in South Slavic languages such as Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian to denote an owner or proprietor—someone who has legal title to a property or asset and the right to use, enjoy, or dispose of it within the bounds of the law.

The feminine form is vlasnica, and the plural is vlasnici. The related concept of ownership is expressed by the noun vlasništvo. Etymologically, vlasnik is formed from the root related to ownership with the agent noun suffix -nik, indicating a person who possesses or holds something.

In legal and property contexts, the vlasnik is the titleholder who holds the legal rights associated with a property, which may include rights of use and transfer. These rights can coexist with other claims, such as encumbrances or non-ownership possessions, where possession (posjed) does not necessarily equal ownership.

Usage examples include sentences like "On je vlasnik stana" (He is the owner of the apartment) and terms such as "vlasničko pravo" (the right of ownership). In land and real estate registries, the vlasnik is typically recorded as the person with formal title to the property.

Beyond law and property, Vlasnik can also appear as a surname in some Slavic-speaking regions, reflecting a patronymic or occupational origin related to ownership or stewardship.

See also: vlasništvo, vlasnica, posjed, vlasničko pravo.