Doslova

Doslova is a Czech adverb meaning literally, word-for-word, or verbatim. It indicates that something is rendered exactly as written or spoken, without interpretation or paraphrase. The term is common in everyday speech as well as journalism and linguistic discussion, where it signals precision or fidelity to the source. In Slovak, the word is identical and carries a closely related sense.

Etymology and nuance: The form is generally analyzed as derived from the preposition do (to) plus slovo (word) in the genitive form slova, with an adverbial suffix -a, yielding the sense “to the word.” The figurative use grows from the idea of following every word exactly, hence the meaning “literally.”

Usage: Doslova modifies translations, quotations, and descriptions of statements. Examples: “Přeložil to doslova” (He translated it word-for-word); “Podle originálu to zní doslova.” Speakers also distinguish the related adjective doslovný and the adverb doslovně: “doslovný překlad” (verbatim translation) and “přeložit doslovně” (to translate literally).

Cognates and equivalents: In Slovak, doslova is used identically. The concept has parallels in other Slavic languages, such as Russian doslovno and Polish dosłownie, with overlapping meanings. In English, closest equivalents are literally, verbatim, or word-for-word translation.

See also: literal translation, verbatim quotation, doslovný překlad.