nepsané

Nepsaná is a Czech adjective meaning not written or unwritten. It is used to describe norms, laws, or knowledge that exist informally rather than in formal documentation. In common usage, phrases like nepsaná pravidla (unwritten rules) and nepsané zákony (unwritten laws) are widespread, referring to social expectations that operate outside of written statutes.

Etymology and form: the word is formed from the prefix ne- attached to the verb psát (to write). It is declined like a standard Czech adjective, with forms such as nepsaný (masculine), nepsaná (feminine), and nepsané (neuter). The exact form adapts to the gender and number of the noun it modifies.

Usage and nuance: nepsaná often conveys tacitness or informal understanding rather than formal obligation. It appears in discussions of culture, etiquette, or tradition, where practices are known and followed without being codified. In literature and journalism, the term can carry a lyrical or descriptive nuance, signaling norms that are accepted but not written down. It can also appear in phrases such as nepsaná historie or nepsané zvyklosti to describe aspects of history or custom that are understood rather than recorded.

See also: unwritten rule, unwritten law, oral tradition, social norms, culture.

In sum, nepsaná is a versatile Czech term for describing things that exist as informal knowledge or customary practice rather than as formal, written rules.