pevný

Pevný is a common Czech and Slovak adjective meaning solid, firm, durable, or fixed. It describes physical solidity, as in pevný stůl or pevný materiál, and also applies to non-physical qualities, such as pevný postoj, pevný charakter, pevný plán, or pevný kurz, where the latter denotes a fixed or stable exchange rate. In figurative use, pevný can express reliability or strength of commitment, as in pevný názor or pevná vůle.

Etymology and related forms: Pevný derives from Proto-Slavic *pevъ ‘firm, strong’ and is linked to related terms such as pevnost (fortress) and zpevnit (to fortify) or zpevněný (reinforced). In Slovak, the word is the same and carries similar meanings, including physical solidity and steadfastness.

Usage and nuances: As an adjective, pevný agrees with gender, number, and case in the language. The adverbial form is pevně, and the comparative and superlative forms are pevnější and nejpevnější, respectively. Common collocations include pevná vazba (hardcover binding), pevný základ (solid foundation), pevný bod (fixed point), and pevný kurz (fixed exchange rate). In mathematics and logic, pevný bod denotes a fixed point.

See also: The word is closely related to other Slavic terms for strength and stability, and its use extends from concrete objects to abstract concepts of firmness and reliability.

Examples: Stůl je pevný a stabilní. Rozhodl se pevně zůstat u svého plánu. Vývoj kurzu zůstává pevný.