sladký

Sladké is an adjective in Czech and Slovak that means sweet or sugary. It is used to describe taste, foods, and drinks, and can also refer to desserts or confectionery in a broader sense. The word appears in everyday language as well as in culinary contexts, such as sladké víno (sweet wine) or sladké pečivo (sweet pastries). In addition to describing flavors, sladké can function as a predicative adjective, as in To je sladké (That is sweet).

Grammatically, sladké agrees with the noun it modifies. The masculine form is sladký, the feminine form is sladká, and the neuter form is sladké. For neuter nouns or when used as a predicative supplement, the form sladké is common, for example sladké jablko (a sweet apple) or mléko je sladké (milk is sweet).

Etymology and cognates: sladké derives from a Slavic root connected with sweetness and sugar. It is closely related to Czech sladký and Slovak sladký, and has cognates in other Slavic languages such as Polish słodki and Russian sladkiy. The root is also found in verbs meaning to sweeten or sweeten foods, like sladit in some languages.

In cultural and culinary usage, sladké is a core descriptor for desserts, confectionery, and sweet-tavored dishes, contrasting with flavors such as hořké (bitter) and kyselé (sour). As a basic adjective, it functions across genres from recipes to literature.