Sounáleitost

Sounáležitost is a Czech noun that denotes the state or quality of belonging together, being related, or pertinent within a larger whole. It can refer to social connectedness—the sense of belonging to a group or community—as well as to the logical or functional relevance of parts to a system.

Etymology: the term comes from the verb náležet (to belong) with the prefix sou- meaning together, and the suffix -nost forming a noun of state.

Usage: In sociology and anthropology it is used to describe social cohesion and identity, the degree to which individuals share norms, values, and loyalties. In philosophy and systems theory it can denote the relation of elements to the whole, i.e., how well a component belongs to or supports the broader framework. In practical discourse, it can express the relevance of a statement or piece of evidence to a particular argument or context.

Examples: sounáležitost rodiny (belonging within a family) or sounáležitost ke komunitě (sense of belonging to a community) or sounáležitost organizace se svými cíli (alignment with organizational goals).

See also: solidarity, cohesion, relatedness, relevance.