Hlboké

Hlboké is a Slovak term meaning deep. It functions as an adjective describing physical depth, such as the depth of water, a space, or a metaphorical depth of meaning. The form hlboké is used with neuter nouns (for example hlboké jazero meaning a deep lake) and also appears in fixed phrases such as hlboké myslenie (profound thinking). The adverbial form is hlboko.

Etymology and cognates

The word derives from the Slavic root hlb- meaning deep. It is related to Czech hluboký and other Slavic forms that express depth. The Slovak adjective inflects as hlboký (masculine), hlboká (feminine), and hlboké (neuter). The root is present in historical toponymy and in everyday language across Slovak-speaking areas.

Geographic usage and toponymy

Hlboké also appears in place names, where it is often rendered as Hlboké or Hlboké in Slovak toponymy. Such toponyms typically reflect a landscape feature associated with depth, such as a deep valley, gorge, or watercourse near or within the settlement. There are multiple settlements in Slovakia with names of this form, and the name’s origin is usually tied to a distinguishing geographic characteristic known to inhabitants at the time of naming.

In other contexts

Beyond geography, hlboké is used to describe broad or abstract depth, including fields like literature, philosophy, and science, where it denotes profundity or thoroughness, as in hlboké poznanie (deep knowledge) or hlboké porozumenie (deep understanding).