ský

ský is a productive adjectival suffix in several Slavic languages, most notably Czech and Slovak. It is used to form adjectives that express relation, affiliation, or origin, often from a noun such as a place name or a nationality. Cognates appear in other Slavic languages as well, such as Russian -ский (transliterated -skiy) and Polish -ski, with similar function in each language.

In Czech and Slovak, adjectives ending in -ský agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and case. The masculine singular nominative form is typically -ský, while feminine is -ská and neuter is -ské; plural forms vary depending on gender and grammar. This agreement allows -ský adjectives to be used across a wide range of nouns, from common descriptors to proper names.

Usage examples include nationality or origin adjectives like český (Czech) and slovenský (Slovak), location-based forms like pražský (Prague-related) or moravský (Moravian), and general descriptors such as italský (Italian) or anglický (English). In place names and formal descriptions, -ský adjectives are common in official-sounding compounds such as Český Krumlov or Pražský hrad, where the suffix signals relation to the city or region.

Origin and variation: the suffix originates in Proto-Slavic as part of the standard adjectival derivation system. Its function is closely parallel to the -ski/-skiy endings found in Polish and Russian, reflecting a shared Slavic method of forming adjectives that denote belonging, origin, or association.