Drobný

Drobní is a Czech adjective meaning small, tiny, fine, or minute. It is commonly used to describe objects, animals, or people that are diminutive in size, or to indicate minor significance or detail. The form drobní is the masculine plural nominative form of the lemma drobný; corresponding forms exist for other genders and numbers (for example, feminine singular drobná and neuter plural drobná or drobná zvířata), reflecting Czech adjective agreement rules.

Etymologically, the word comes from the root drob-, associated with smallness and slightness, and is related to nouns like drobnost (a trifling matter or small thing). In everyday Czech, drobní is often found in phrases such as drobní ptáci (small birds) or drobná zvířata (small animals), and it can convey nuance beyond mere size, including delicacy or insignificance depending on context. The term is versatile across domains including natural descriptions, everyday objects, and stylistic or literary usage, where it can contrast with terms like velký (large) or významný (significant).

In addition to its use as an ordinary adjective, drobní can appear as a surname in Czech-speaking regions, where it is capitalized and treated as a family name rather than a descriptor. This dual usage—descriptive adjective and surname—reflects common patterns in Czech onomastics.

See also: drobný, drobnost, malý.