kletba

Kletba is a term in Czech and other Slavic languages that denotes a curse or imprecation—an utterance or ritual intended to bring harm to a person, place, or object. The word also appears in broader contexts to describe a solemn oath or binding pledge in ritual or religious settings, though in everyday usage it is most often associated with harmful magic.

In traditional folklore, kletba is attributed to figures such as witches, sorcerers, or wronged individuals, and it is said to operate through spoken words, spells, or ritual acts. Curses are commonly described as bringing misfortune, illness, or a streak of bad luck, sometimes triggered by a breach of taboos, betrayal, or malice.

In literature and popular culture, kletba serves as a narrative device that motivates characters to uncover the source of the misfortune and seek a remedy, often requiring courage, repentance, or the reversal of the spell. The motif appears across Central and Eastern European folklore and has been adapted in fairy tales, novels, and films.

Today, the term can also be used figuratively to mean persistent bad luck or a family burden. Scholarly study treats kletba as part of the broader field of imprecation and ritual language in Slavic traditions, examining its social functions, symbolic meanings, and methods of countering or breaking curses.