Potvrzením

Potvrzením is the instrumental singular form of the Czech noun potvrzení, which denotes either a confirmation or a certificate that attests a fact. The term can refer to a statement affirming that something is true, or to an official document that serves as proof. In everyday and administrative language, potvrzení is used for documents such as certificates of birth, study, employment, or no indebtedness, as well as for various confirmations required by institutions.

Etymology and form: potvrzení is derived from the verb potvrdit, meaning to confirm or certify. The instrumental form potvrzením is used when the noun functions as the means or instrument by which something is established, or appears in formal formulations describing how a fact is proven or how an action is verified.

Usage and contexts: In administrative and legal contexts, potvrzení commonly appears as the name of a document (potvrzení o studiu, potvrzení o bezdlužnosti, potvrzení trvalého pobytu). The instrumental form, potvrzením, is found in fixed constructions that emphasize the method or basis of verification, or in phrases describing the act of confirming something. The exact usage depends on grammatical role within a sentence, often tied to formal or official language.

Related terms and nuance: Potvrzení is closely related to doklad, osvědčení and doložení, which are broader terms for documents or statements that certify a fact. While potvrzením emphasizes the instrument or act of confirmation, the other terms more often name the certificate itself or the act of providing evidence. The word is common in Czech law, administration, and bureaucratic communication.

Notes: Potvrzením is neuter in gender, with the standard plural generally not used as a direct synonym for potvrzení; context determines whether it refers to a document or to the act of confirming.