bohemian

Bohemian denotes anything relating to Bohemia, a historic region in the western half of the Czech Republic. Bohemia is the largest of the three historical Czech lands and has Prague as its capital. The name Bohemia originates from the Boii, a Celtic tribe that inhabited the area in ancient times. In modern geography, Bohemia is often used to refer to the western part of the Czech Republic, though the term mainly survives as a historical or cultural designation.

In English, a person from Bohemia is called a Bohemian. The term also gave rise to a broader cultural concept, Bohemianism, describing a lifestyle associated with artists, writers, and other nonconformists who pursued creative expression outside conventional society. From the 19th century onward, Bohemianism became linked with itinerant living, unconventional dress, and anti-establishment attitudes; in contemporary usage, "bohemian" or "boho" describes a fashion and lifestyle aesthetic derived from that heritage.

Historically, Bohemia was a crown land of the Holy Roman Empire, then part of the Habsburg Monarchy. The Czech language is the region's primary language, with German historically spoken in many communities. It became a founding region of Czechoslovakia after World War I and, since 1993, has been part of the Czech Republic as its western, historic heartland. The region is known for cities such as Prague, Plzeň, and České Budějovice, and for its historical architecture, mineral springs, and cultural institutions.

Modern usage of the term also extends to products associated with Bohemia, including Bohemian glass and Bohemian crystal, renowned for craftsmanship dating back to the medieval and early modern periods.