kniha

Kniha is the Czech and Slovak word for a book, a bound or durable collection of written or printed pages. A book can be fiction or non-fiction, monograph or part of a series, and may exist as a physical object or a digital edition (e-book).

Origin and usage: The term derives from Proto-Slavic *kniga and has cognates in other Slavic languages, notably Russian kniga and Ukrainian knyha; the precise etymology is debated. In Czech and Slovak, the singular is kniha, the plural knihy.

Format and structure: A book typically includes a title page, author, publisher, edition, chapters, and sometimes a table of contents, preface, index, and bibliography. Books are identified by bibliographic data and identifiers such as the International Standard Book Number (ISBN).

History: Books evolved from clay tablets and scrolls to codices in late antiquity; the invention of movable type printing in the 15th century enabled mass production. The rise of the internet and e-readers in the late 20th and early 21st centuries expanded the form to digital formats, and audiobooks have become a common variant as well.

Social and cultural role: Books are primary vehicles for literature, education, record-keeping, and cultural transmission. They underpin libraries, publishing, and education systems, while authors, editors, and readers shape their creation, distribution, and interpretation.