prokletých

Prokletých is the genitive plural form of the Czech adjective prokletý, meaning cursed or damned. It is used to describe people, places, or things believed to be under a curse or doomed to misfortune. In everyday language it can express a sense of unfavorability or bad luck, while in literary and folkloric contexts it often denotes groups or beings marked by supernatural punishment. The phrase is common in titles and expressions such as stories of the prokletých or tales about the cursed.

Etymology and grammar: prokletý derives from the Czech noun kletba (curse) with the prefix pro-, and prokletých is its masculine animate genitive plural form. In phrases the adjective typically accompanies a noun in the genitive or serves to evoke the idea of a collective group of the afflicted, for example in a title or a descriptive clause. The base noun for the concept of a curse is prokletí.

Cultural and literary context: Curses appear prominently in Czech and broader Central European folklore, often tied to moral transgressions, misdeeds, or bargains with supernatural beings. Common narrative elements include the origin of the curse, trials to break it, and its consequences for individuals, families, or communities. The motif frequently explores themes of guilt, atonement, sacrifice, and the limits of human agency.

Modern usage: In contemporary writing and media, prokletých can frame fantasy, thriller, or horror works, signaling a supernatural burden or tragic fate. The term also appears in discussions of folklore and in analyses of how curses function as moral or social metaphors.

See also: kletba, prokletí.