Obecný

Obecné is a Czech adjective meaning general, common, or non-specific. It is used to describe ideas, rules, or characteristics that apply broadly rather than to a single instance. In everyday and formal language, it appears in phrases such as obecné zásady (general principles), obecné pravidlo (general rule), or obecná znalost (general knowledge).

Etymology and sense: Obecné is derived from the noun obec, meaning community, municipality, or the public at large, with the suffix -ný forming adjectives. The sense connects what belongs to the whole or to all members of a group, rather than to a particular case or item.

Usage: The term frequently marks non-specialized or broadly accepted aspects in fields such as education, law, science, and discourse. It helps distinguish broad concepts from specific, technical, or case-specific details.

Grammar and forms: The root stem is obecn-. The form obecný is masculine singular, obecná is feminine singular, and obecné is neuter singular. In plural, obecné can also appear as a feminine plural nominative, as in obecné zásady (general principles). The exact ending depends on gender and number of the noun it modifies.

Related terms: The related noun obec means municipality or community. In Slovak and other Slavic languages, cognate forms exist with similar general-and-common meanings, reflecting a shared semantic heritage.

See also: obec, obecnosť, obecných zásad, obecný zákon.