Temnému

Temnému is the dative singular form of the Czech adjective temný, meaning dark. It is used with masculine singular nouns in the dative case, and with neuter singular nouns as well; the feminine dative singular of temný is temné. In short, temnému is the form you place before a masculine or neuter noun when you express “to/for the dark …” in the dative.

Morphology and usage notes: the stem temn- takes the endings -ému for masculine and neuter in the dative singular. The feminine dative singular is temné. For example, in a sentence such as “Dopis temnému muži byl doručen,” temnému muži is the dative recipient phrase meaning “to the dark man.”

Contexts: temnému is used whenever the adjective temný describes a masculine or neuter noun in the dative case, typically with verbs or prepositions that govern the dative. The feminine dative form temné is used with feminine nouns in the same function (for example, temné ženě, meaning “to the dark woman”).

Etymology and style: temný comes from the Proto-Slavic root meaning dark or gloomy. Temnému, as a grammatical form, is standard in contemporary Czech and also appears in literary or formal contexts where precise case marking is required.

See also: temný, Czech adjectives, Czech grammar, dative case.