Známí

Známé is a Czech adjective meaning known, familiar, or well-known. It is used to describe things or people that are recognized or easily identifiable, and it can refer to general knowledge as well as to popularity. In everyday language it often signals something that listeners or readers already recognize.

Grammatically, známe is the neuter singular form of the adjective známý, and it is also the feminine plural nominative form, used when describing feminine plural nouns (for example, známé tváře, meaning familiar faces). The form takes other endings to agree with different genders and numbers, as with all Czech adjectives. Distinguishing nuance matters: známý can indicate something simply known, while proslulý or populární are used for more specific shades of fame or popularity.

Etymology traces známé to the verb znát, "to know," with the adjective zná-mý derived from Proto-Slavic roots related to knowledge. The word forms part of a broader family including známý (masculine singular) and známá (feminine singular), all sharing the same semantic core of recognition or familiarity.

Usage and examples are common in literary, media, and conversational Czech. Phrases include známé tváře (familiar faces), známé písně (well-known songs), and známé problémy (well-known problems). The term is often contrasted with synonyms such as známý, populární, or proslulý, depending on whether the emphasis is simply recognition, general popularity, or renown.

See also: známý; známá; známé feminine plural usage; related antonyms and synonyms in Czech.