Jednoho

Jednoho is the genitive singular form of the Czech numeral jeden, meaning “one.” In Czech grammar, numerals function as adjectives and decline to match the gender and case of the noun they modify. The form jed-n-o-ho (jednoho) is used when the numeral is in the genitive singular, which occurs in many common constructions.

Grammatical notes: The genitive singular form of jeden is jed-noho, used with masculine animate nouns in genitive, and it also appears with neuter nouns in phrases that require genitive. Feminine nouns take a different form, for example jedné in the genitive singular. The word is typically encountered in phrases that express quantity or in time expressions, rather than as a stand-alone numeral. Examples include bez jednoho slova (without a single word), měl jednoho syna (he had one son), and jednoho dne (one day).

Etymology and cognates: Jednoho derives from the Czech cardinal numeral jeden, itself rooted in Proto-Slavic *jьdenъ. The form has recognizable cognates in other Slavic languages, such as Russian odnogo (genitive of odin), Polish jednego, and Ukrainian odnogo, reflecting a common Proto-Slavic heritage for the word “one.”

Usage notes: As a genitive singular form, jed-noho appears in various contexts where a grammatical agreement with a masculine animate or neuter noun is required in genitive. It is not used with feminine nouns, which use a different genitive form. In everyday Czech, jed-noho is a common and essential form for expressing quantity, time, and nominal phrases.