Známo

Známo is a Czech word that functions primarily as an adverb meaning “known” or “well‑known.” It can also be used as a colloquial interjection, roughly equivalent to “I know” or “I am aware.” In everyday speech it often appears in expressions such as “známo je” (it is known) or as a reply to a statement, signaling that the speaker has prior knowledge of the subject.

The word is derived from the older Czech form *známo* meaning “in a known/recognized sense,” which in turn comes from the Proto‑Slavic root *znata*, related to the verb znamenat ‘to signify’ and the noun značka ‘sign, mark.’ It shares cognates with other Slavic languages: Polish znamy, Slovak známe, Russian znanij, all meaning “known” or “familiar.”

In grammatical terms, známo is an adverb when describing state or condition, and it can also function as a particle that modifies verbs in the passive voice. It does not decline but can be combined with particles like *už* (“already”) or *je* to form phrases such as *už známo* (“already known”) or *je známo* (“it is known”).

The usage of známo appears in legal, literary, and everyday contexts. The Czech Academy of Sciences lists several idiomatic expressions containing the word, exemplifying its role as a marker of established knowledge. In modern media, známo can appear in headlines to emphasize verified facts or in discussions that require confirmation of previously stated information.

References to the word’s history and usage are available in standard Czech dictionaries, such as the Czech National Dictionary, and in linguistic studies on Slavic semantics. The term remains a staple of Czech linguistic repertoire, illustrating how lexical items evolve while maintaining core semantic functions.