Jaké

Jaké is a Czech word used as an interrogative determiner and adjective meaning “what kind of” or “which.” It is used to inquire about the kind, type, or quality of a noun and can appear in questions or exclamations. Examples include Jaké auto máš? (What kind of car do you have?), Jaké jídlo chceš? (What kind of food do you want?), and Jaké počasí je dnes? (What kind of weather is today?). In exclamatory use it can express surprise or emphasis, as in Jaké krásné počasí! (What beautiful weather!).

Grammar and inflection follow the pattern of Czech adjectives. jaké must agree with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. The form shown here is the neuter singular nominative, but the word also appears in feminine and masculine forms and in singular and plural forms to match the noun. In practice, speakers choose the form based on the noun’s grammatical category, so the exact ending changes with the noun.

Usage notes include its productive derivatives, such as jakýkoli or jakékoli, which mean “any kind of” or “whatever,” and are common in both questions and non-question clauses. The base word jaký (masculine singular) and its other forms are central to forming related phrases like jaká kniha (which book) and jaké knihy (which books).

Originating from the Czech interrogative jaký meaning “what kind,” jaké remains a staple in everyday Czech for asking about characteristics, types, and classifications of objects or concepts.