listový

Listový is an adjective used in Czech and Slovak to denote that something has leaves or is composed of layers that resemble leaves. It is applied in both botanical and everyday language to describe plant features, as well as in culinary terms.

In botanical and horticultural contexts, listový describes plants or plant parts that bear leaves. Common phrases include listová zelenina (leafy vegetables) and listový salát (leaf lettuce). The term can also appear in broader discussions of leafy plant characteristics, contrasting with non-leafy or woody aspects. In everyday speech, related forms such as listnatý are used to describe deciduous, leaf-bearing trees and shrubs.

In cooking, listový appears in the expression listové těsto (Czech) or listové cesto (Slovak), referring to laminated or puff pastry. The name reflects the dough’s many thin, layered sheets that resemble leaves. This usage highlights a separate sense of the word derived from the visual impression of layered sheets rather than literal leaves.

Etymology and related forms: listový derives from list (leaf) with the adjectival suffix -ový. In Slovak and Czech, the form is nearly identical and used in parallel senses. A closely related term is listnatý, used to describe objects that are leaf-bearing, especially trees in the sense of deciduous species.

See also: leafy vegetables, puff pastry, deciduous trees.