Termín

Termín is a noun used in Czech and Slovak to denote a specific point in time, such as a calendar date, an appointed time, or a deadline. It can also refer to a defined period within which something is to be done, a time limit, or an expiration date. The word is derived from Latin terminus and has entered Czech and Slovak through European language contact, sharing cognates with German (Termin) and French (terme).

In everyday and formal language, termín is commonly used for scheduling and deadlines. For example, a delivery termín indicates the date by which goods should be delivered, or a meeting termín specifies when the meeting will take place. In legal and business contexts, termín often denotes a fixed date or period established by contract or regulation. The word is frequently contrasted with datum (a specific calendar date) and lhůta (a time limit or grace period), though termín can overlap with these notions depending on context. Some phrases are common, such as termín splatnosti (due date), termín dodání (delivery date), or termín konání (time of an event).

Usage notes: termín tends to be neutral and widely understood in official, administrative, and everyday speech. It can refer to both a concrete date and a broader time window, but in precise contexts, more specific terms like datum or lhůta may be preferred. The English equivalents are usually “date,” “deadline,” or “term,” depending on sense.