dírou

Dírou is the instrumental singular form of the Czech noun díra, which means a hole, opening, cavity, or gap. The basic meaning covers openings in solid surfaces such as walls or floors as well as natural or artificial cavities inside objects. In addition to the literal sense, díra is used metaphorically to describe gaps, deficiencies, or missing parts in non-physical contexts, for example a hole in a budget or a gap in information. The instrumental form dírou is used when the hole is the means or path by which an action is performed, or when describing movement through an opening, as in phrases like dírou ve zdi, where through the hole in the wall something can pass or be accessed.

Etymology and related forms: díra is a native Czech word with cognates in other Slavic languages, such as Slovak diera and Polish dziura. The term has ancient roots in the Slavic language family and appears in historical texts with similar meanings. The noun forms follow standard Czech declension: nominative díra, accusative díru, genitive díry, dative díře, locative díře, instrumental dírou; plural forms include díry (nom.) and dírami (instr.).

Usage notes: díra is commonly used for openings in buildings, earth, equipment, and clothing, as well as for cavities in natural materials. The instrumental dírou appears in constructions describing through-ness or means, often with verbs of passage or penetration, for example: Dírou ve zdi se dalo projít. This usage emphasizes the path or instrument rather than the object as a mere target.

See also: hole, opening, cavity, gap (in Czech lexicon); idiomatic expressions involving gaps or deficits.