Západ

Západ is a Czech noun meaning the west, the cardinal direction opposite východ (east). It is also used to refer to the western part of a country, region, or town, and in meteorological or poetic contexts it denotes the moment of sunset when the sun sinks in the western sky. The term is connected to the position of the sun in the sky and the idea of the western horizon.

In geography and administration, západ appears in toponyms and official names to designate western parts relative to a larger area. Examples include Praha-západ (Prague West) and okres Praha-západ (Prague-West District) in the Central Bohemian Region. These uses indicate a western portion within a given locality or administrative structure.

In politics and culture, západ refers to the Western world or Western bloc, in contrast to východ (the East). In Czech discourse it commonly denotes countries of Western Europe, North America, and their allies, especially in historical contexts such as the Cold War, and in modern contexts related to the European Union, NATO, or transatlantic relations. The term also appears in literature, film, and journalism to evoke themes of modernity, openness, or geopolitical orientation.

Západ is also used in phrases such as západ slunce to mean sunset, a poetic or naturalistic image of the western sky. See also východ for the opposite direction and related cultural concepts.