obývací

Obývací is a Czech adjective used to describe things related to living or inhabited spaces. In everyday use it appears most often in compound nouns that designate areas intended for daily life, especially in housing and interior design. The most common form is obývací pokoj, the living room.

Etymology and formation: Obývací is derived from the verb obývat (to inhabit) and the related noun obydlí (dwelling). The suffix -ací forms an adjective meaning “pertaining to” or “characteristic of.” This construction is standard in Czech for describing parts of a house or its interior.

Usage and examples: In architecture, real estate, and interior design, obývací describes rooms or zones intended for living rather than sleeping or cooking. Typical phrases include obývací pokoj (living room), obývací prostor or obývací zóna (living area), and obývací část domu (living section of a house). In modern open-plan layouts it is common to see descriptions such as obývací pokoj s kuchyňským koutem (living room with kitchenette) or obývací prostor propojený s jídelnou (living area connected to the dining area).

Notes: The term is not used for sleeping spaces; sleeping areas are usually referred to as ložnice or sometimes spací zóna in marketing contexts. Obývací pokoj remains the standard and most widely understood designation for the living room in Czech.