Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to the Czech Republic, its people, or their language: Describes anything originating from or associated with the Czech Republic, its citizens, or the Czech language.
   • Relating to the former Czechoslovakia or its people: Describes anything originating from or associated with the former nation of Czechoslovakia (1918-1992).

2. Noun:

   • A person from the Czech Republic: A native or inhabitant of the Czech Republic.
   • A person from the former Czechoslovakia: A native or inhabitant of the former nation of Czechoslovakia.
   • The West Slavic language of the Czech people: The official language spoken in the Czech Republic.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • She is a Czech citizen. (She holds nationality from the Czech Republic.)
  • We studied Czech history in class. (We studied the history of the Czech lands.)
  • This is a traditional Czech recipe. (This recipe originates from Czech culture.)

• Noun (Person):

  • He is a Czech. (He is a person from the Czech Republic.)
  • Many Czechs emigrated in the 20th century. (Many people from Czech lands emigrated.)

• Noun (Language):

  • She is fluent in Czech. (She speaks the Czech language fluently.)
  • Czech uses the Latin alphabet with diacritics. (The Czech language is written with a modified Latin script.)

Advanced Usage

• "the Czech": When used with the definite article, it can refer collectively to the Czech people as a nation.
  • The Czech have a rich cultural heritage.
• In historical contexts, "Czech" can specifically refer to the Bohemian ethnic group within the Czech lands.

Variants and Related Words

• Czechoslovak (adj/n): Pertaining to or a native of the former Czechoslovakia. (Now primarily historical.)
  • The Czechoslovak state existed from 1918 to 1992.
• Czechoslovakian (adj/n): Alternative form of Czechoslovak.
• Bohemian (adj/n): Pertaining to or a native of the historical region of Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. (Note: This is distinct from the artistic/lifestyle meaning of "bohemian".)

Synonyms

• Czechoslovak(ian): (Historical, for the former federation).
• There are no direct synonyms for the modern national demonym "Czech" or the language name "Czech".

Related Phrases

• Czech Republic: The modern sovereign state in Central Europe (capital: Prague).
• Czech lands: The historical regions of Bohemia, Moravia, and Czech Silesia.
• Czech out: (Informal pun) A playful phrase meaning "check out," playing on the homophony of "Czech" and "check."
  • You should Czech out this new Prague guidebook.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary modern meaning relates to the Czech Republic, established in 1993.
• The historical meaning relates to Czechoslovakia, a sovereign state that existed from 1918 until its peaceful dissolution into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1992.
• The term can refer to ethnicity, nationality, or language.

Adjective

1. of or relating to Czechoslovakia or its people or their language
   • The Czech border
   • Czechoslovak nationalists
   • The Czechoslovakian population

Noun

1. the Slavic language of Czechs
2. a native or inhabitant of the former republic of Czechoslovakia
3. a native of inhabitant of the Czech Republic