spisovné

Spisovný is a Czech adjective meaning “literary” or “standard,” used to describe the codified form of the language as it is used in writing, education, and formal discourse. In linguistic description it is often contrasted with nespisovný (nonstandard) and hovorový (colloquial) varieties. The term is commonly applied to phrases such as spisovný jazyk or spisovná čeština.

Spisovný jazyk adheres to normative spelling, grammar, and vocabulary established by reference works and style guides, and is typically taught in schools and used in official communication, media, and literature. In everyday speech, speakers may shift to nespisovné or hovorové forms that are nonstandard but widely understood; the distinction is primarily a matter of register and social context, rather than a simple binary.

In linguistic and educational practice, words and grammatical forms are described as spisovný when they conform to standard usage. Authoritative references, such as the Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (SSJČ) and the Pravidla českého pravopisu, define spisovnost and guide normative norms. The concept also helps distinguish between formal written Czech and more informal or regional varieties, though language continually evolves and so do standards.

Overall, spisovný denotes the preserved, codified, and widely taught form of Czech used in formal communication and literature, serving as a baseline for instruction, media, and scholarly description of the language.