Nástupce

Nástupce is a Czech noun meaning “successor” or “heir.” It designates a person who will assume a position, title, office, or estate after the current holder steps down, dies, or otherwise leaves the post. The term is used across political, administrative, corporate, and royal contexts and does not necessarily imply inheritance of property; that role is typically described by the word dědic (heir).

Etymology and forms: Nástupce is formed from the verb nastoupit (to step in, to take office) with the noun-forming suffix -ce. The masculine form is nástupce, the feminine is nástupkyně, and the plural forms are nástupci (masculine/mixed) and nástupkyně (feminine).

Usage: Common contexts include “nástupce ředitele” (the director’s successor) or “nástupce premiéra” (the prime minister’s successor). In monarchies or royal contexts, “nástupce trůnu” denotes the heir to the throne. The term emphasizes the function or office to be assumed rather than the inheritance of property.

Relation to related terms: Dědic refers to an heir in the sense of inheritance of property or a will, whereas nástupce focuses on succession to a role or title. Related expressions include nastoupit (to step in) and nástup funkce (assumption of office).

See also: dědic, dědictví, nastoupit.