ústní

Ústní is a Czech adjective meaning related to the mouth or to speech. In anatomy and medicine it is used to denote structures and processes of the mouth, while in everyday language it also describes spoken or verbal aspects. Common phrases include ústní dutina (the oral cavity), ústní hygiena (oral hygiene), ústní projev (an oral presentation or spoken expression), and ústní zkouška (an oral examination).

Etymology: The word derives from the noun ústa (mouth) with the adjectival suffix -ní. It has been part of standard Czech since the medieval period and is used with masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns in agreement.

Usage notes: In technical contexts the synonym orální may be encountered, especially in medicine (for example orální podání, meaning oral administration). However, ústní remains the more common term in everyday language, dentistry, and general anatomy. The noun form ústa refers to the mouth itself, while ústní is used as an attributive descriptor.

See also: ústa, ústní dutina, orální.