Jakým

jakým is a Czech word that serves as the instrumental singular form of the interrogative and relative adjective jaký, meaning “what kind of” or “how.” It is used to refer to the manner, method, or means by which something is done, and it often appears together with the noun it modifies or in fixed phrases such as “jakým způsobem” (in what way).

Grammatically, jakým is the form that agrees with masculine singular or neuter nouns in the instrumental case. The feminine instrumental form is jakou (for example, jakou řečí, jakou metodou). In use, jakým can introduce questions (Jakým způsobem to funguje?) or begin relative clauses (způsob, jakým to udělali). It is commonly found in written Czech, journalism, and formal speech, but also appears in more elaborate constructions in everyday language.

Common collocations include jakým způsobem (in what manner), jakým jazykem (in what language), and the broader pattern způsoby, jakým... (the ways in which...). The word is etymologically linked to the base jaký and derives from Proto-Slavic roots for “which/what” with the instrumental ending -ým named after Czech adjective declension. Similar forms exist in other Slavic languages, such as Russian каким and Polish jakim, reflecting a shared grammatical heritage.

See also: jaký, jak, způsoby, způsob. Notes on usage emphasize its role in explaining manner or means and its greater frequency in formal or descriptive contexts.