Vlastní

Vlastní is a Czech adjective meaning “own” or “belonging to oneself.” It is used to indicate possession by the subject, distinguishing something that one possesses from property that belongs to others or is shared. The adjective typically precedes the noun it modifies, as in phrases such as vlastní auto (one’s own car), vlastní byt (one’s own flat), or vlastní kapitál (own capital). It can also be used with other noun groups, for example vlastní náklady (own costs) or vlastní výrobky (in-house products). In a sentence, it can be predicative as well: má vlastní auto (he has his own car).

Grammatically, vlastní is an adjective that agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case. It forms part of many common compound terms and is widely used in formal and everyday language. The word contrasts with cizí (foreign/other people’s) or seka shared ownership, and it often appears in discussions of personal resources, finances, or property.

Vlastní is related to the pronoun svůj, which also marks possession, but is used differently: svůj is reflexive and emphasizes ownership tied to the subject, while vlastní tends to carry a nuance of personal, inherent ownership or proprietorship, sometimes with a more formal tone.

See also: vlastník (owner), vlastnictví (ownership), vlastní prostředky (own resources), vlastní kapitál (own capital). The term ultimately derives from vlastní, rooted in vlast meaning possession or property.