volný

Volný is a Czech adjective meaning free in several senses: not occupied or constrained, available, or unbound. It is used to describe objects, time, space, and actions, as in volný čas (free time), volný prostor (free space), or volný pohyb (unrestricted movement). In contexts dealing with liberty or rights, volný is often contrasted with svobodný, which conveys a stronger sense of political or legal freedom. The word can also describe something loose or not tight, for example volný šev (a loose seam).

Etymology and cognates: volný derives from Proto-Slavic *volnъ, meaning free or unbound. Related forms appear throughout Slavic languages, including Slovak voľný, Polish wolny, and Russian volny (вольный). The meaning center is the notion of lack of constraint or unoccupied status, with nuances depending on the language and context.

Grammar and usage: volný is an ordinary adjective that agrees with the gender and number of the noun it modifies. Masculine singular is volný, feminine singular volná, neuter singular volné; declined accordingly in other cases (e.g., volného, volnou). Common expressions include volný vstup (free admission), volný náklad (unloaded or free of charge in some contexts), and volný přístup (open access). When referring to time or space, volný conveys availability or lack of occupancy, such as mít volný termín or mít volné místo.

As a surname, Volný exists in Czech and Slovak onomastics and appears in historical and contemporary records. Its use as a proper name is independent of its adjectival meanings.

See also related terms such as volnost (freedom, looseness) and volný čas.