ostatní

Ostatní is a Czech word that functions as an adjective and as a substantive pronoun. It denotes the remaining members or items in a group, i.e., the “other” or “the rest,” in contrast to those already mentioned or singled out.

As an adjective, ostatní modifies a noun and agrees in gender, number, and case. It is used to describe people or things that are not part of the currently focused subset, for example: ostatní studenti, ostatní členové, ostatní dny. It can also appear in phrases such as ostatní položky or ostatní výrobky in catalogs, reports, or labels.

As a substantive pronoun, ostatní can stand for “the others” or “the rest” without a following noun, typically in the plural. For instance: Ostatní se neozvali, Ostatní z nás souhlasili. In this use, the word is declined like any Czech ordinal adjective and agrees with the implied or previously stated noun.

Distinctions and nuance: ostatní generally emphasizes those not yet specified within a known set, rather than simply the remainder. It is often contrasted with zbytek, which more plainly means the rest of the whole, sometimes implying a more concrete remainder rather than a subset of people or items. Another related term is další, which can mean “additional” or “the next.”

Common usage includes everyday conversation, academic writing, and professional contexts, as well as headings or labels such as “Ostatní položky” in financial statements or inventories. In Slovak, a closely related form also means “the others,” reflecting shared Slavic roots.