Zvaný

Zvaný is a word used in Czech and Slovak, functioning as a past participle adjective derived from the verb meaning “to call” or “to name.” It describes someone or something that is referred to by a name or nickname. As an adjective, it agrees with the noun it modifies in gender and number, with forms such as zvaný (masculine singular), zvaná (feminine singular), and zvané (neuter singular), while plural forms follow standard inflection patterns in each language.

In usage, zvaný often appears in phrases that specify a label or epithet. A common fixed expression is takzvaný, meaning “so-called,” which introduces a designation that may be ordinary, contested, or ironic. Outside of this set phrase, zvaný can appear in biographical or literary contexts to indicate a nickname, alias, or appellation by which a person is known, for example in historical records or narrative prose.

The word is not typically a standalone proper name, but rather a grammatical form that accompanies a noun to convey how that noun is referred to. Its function is descriptive, signaling that the designation attached to the noun is a label rather than an intrinsic or universally recognized identity.

See also: takzvaný, so-called.