hodný

Hodný is a common Czech adjective meaning kind or benevolent, and also capable of conveying that someone is worthy or deserving in a moral or merit-based sense. In everyday speech it is most often used to describe a person’s character, for example as "hodný člověk" (a kind person) or "hodná žena" (a kind woman). The term can also be used in a predicative sense after a linking verb, as in "On je hodný" (He is kind).

Etymology and nuance: hodný derives from the Indo-European root related to value and worth, connected to words such as hodnotit (to value) and hodnotný (valuable, meaningful). Over time it gained the primary sense of a person’s moral quality—kind, good-natured, or worthy of esteem. It is distinct from milý (affectionate, pleasant) and dobrý (good in a broad sense); hodný emphasizes virtue, moral character, or a sense of worthiness, rather than just general goodness or friendliness.

Usage and grammar: hodný is a regular Czech adjective and agrees with the noun in gender, number, and case. It can appear attributively before a noun (hodný člověk) or predicatively after být (ten člověk je hodný). The feminine form is hodná, the neuter hodné, with appropriate plural forms for different genders. It commonly collocates with nouns describing people but can also describe actions or moments in a worthy or proper sense, depending on context.

Related terms: synonyms include milý and laskavý for more intimate kindness, and dobrý or vhodný for general goodness or suitability. Hodný often carries a nuance of moral worth or deservedness that other synonyms may not fully capture.

See also: Czech adjectives, Czech syntax of predicative adjectives, etymology of hodný.