jedným

Jedným is the instrumental singular form of the numeral jeden in Czech and Slovak, used when the instrumental case is required. It denotes the quantity one and appears in sentences that follow prepositions or verbs that govern the instrumental, or in fixed expressions such as one of.

In contemporary usage, jedným typically accompanies masculine or neuter nouns in instrumental position. Examples include Czech phrases like s jedním psem (with a dog), jedním domem, or jedním dechem, and their Slovak equivalents, s jedným psom, jedným domom, or jedným dychom. A common construction is jedným z ... meaning "one of ...," as in jedným z dôvodov (Czech) or jedným z dôvodov (Slovak), used to refer to a single element among a group of reasons.

Etymology and related forms: jedným originates from Proto-Slavic *edinъ, the root of the numeral meaning “one.” It has cognates across Slavic languages, such as Russian odnim, Polish jednym, and Ukrainian odnym, all reflecting the same instrumental singular function of the word for “one.”

Notes: The form is specifically a masculine/neuter instrumental singular; feminine forms differ in other grammatical contexts. As a cardinal numeral, jedným coexists with other figures in complex sentences and set phrases, and is a common element in both Czech and Slovak written and spoken language.