tenká

tenký (Czech adjective) means “thin”, “slender” or “narrow” and is used both in literal and figurative contexts. The word derives from the Proto‑Slavic *těnъkъ and is cognate with Slovak tenký, Polish cienki, Russian тонкий (tonkiy) and the Old Church Slavonic тѣнъкъ. In modern Czech it functions as a standard descriptive term for objects with small thickness or breadth, such as tenký papír (thin paper) or tenký pás (narrow strip). It can also describe human features (tenká postava – slender figure) and abstract qualities, for example tenký argument (a weak argument) or tenká linka mezi vědou a praxí (a tenuous link between theory and practice).

Grammatically, tenký is a hard‑stem adjective and follows the typical Czech declension patterns. Its comparative form is tenčí and the superlative is nejtenčí. The feminine form is tenká, the neuter tenké, and plural forms follow the same gender rules.

Beyond everyday language, tenký appears in literature and poetry to evoke delicacy or fragility. The term is also present in technical fields: in engineering a tenký film may refer to a coating of micrometre thickness, while in medicine tenká céva denotes a narrow blood vessel.

The surname Tenký exists in the Czech Republic, likely originating as a nickname for a slender person. Notable bearers include Czech musicians and athletes, though the name remains relatively uncommon. As a lexical item, tenký exemplifies the rich system of Slavic adjective formation and continues to be a frequently used descriptor in both spoken and written Czech.