4 ms·

Tangentially, I thought Czechia is the modern and practical name for the country. "Czech republic" was used for many years, for reasons which I never understood

Tangentially, I thought Czechia is the modern and practical name for the country. "Czech republic" was used for many years, for reasons which I never understood, even though nobody says "Italian republic" or "German federal republic". If you insist on using an old name, you might as well chose "Bohemia".

tomashubelbauer 3y ago
Bohemia is one of three historical states comprising the Czech Republic, the other two being Moravia and Silesia. I can't speak for all Czech people, but I can tell you there is a sizable group who don't like the name Czechia because its Czech equivalent "Cesko" while nowadays officially recognized as a short version of the country's name was originally only a conversational short name and it feels far from proper and official both as the Czech version, "Cesko", and in the English translation, "Czechia". I would be interested in a poll of the Czech public quantifying people's preferences towards which name they prefer to see how small a hill I am choosing to die on actually. BTW the full name includes the definite article, so it is "the Czech Republic".
omnimus 3y ago
The reason is very similar to why people from United Kingdom get upset when you call it England. Czechia is at same time name of the main region and (now) the country as a whole. Funnily enough the distinction between regions exists in english language - Bohemia being the name of the region. So Czechia as name for country could work. But in czech language word for Bohemia region is "Czechia" (there is no Bohemia). So thats why for years you had people insisting on the Czech Republic. Because you don't want to overlook the other two regions Moravia and Silesia.
- Jenda_ 3y ago
  > But in czech language word for Bohemia region is "Czechia" (there is no Bohemia). No. Bohemia is Čechy, Czechia is Česko. Yes, they are sometimes confused, and maybe people are unhappy with Česko because it's just too similar to Čechy. People from Moravia and Silesia feel underrepresented when someone mistakenly uses "Čechy" (Bohemia) for the entire Česko (Czechia; Bohemia+Moravia+Silesia).

tomashubelbauer 3y ago

Bohemia is one of three historical states comprising the Czech Republic, the other two being Moravia and Silesia. I can't speak for all Czech people, but I can tell you there is a sizable group who don't like the name Czechia because its Czech equivalent "Cesko" while nowadays officially recognized as a short version of the country's name was originally only a conversational short name and it feels far from proper and official both as the Czech version, "Cesko", and in the English translation, "Czechia". I would be interested in a poll of the Czech public quantifying people's preferences towards which name they prefer to see how small a hill I am choosing to die on actually. BTW the full name includes the definite article, so it is "the Czech Republic".

omnimus 3y ago

The reason is very similar to why people from United Kingdom get upset when you call it England. Czechia is at same time name of the main region and (now) the country as a whole. Funnily enough the distinction between regions exists in english language - Bohemia being the name of the region. So Czechia as name for country could work. But in czech language word for Bohemia region is "Czechia" (there is no Bohemia). So thats why for years you had people insisting on the Czech Republic. Because you don't want to overlook the other two regions Moravia and Silesia.

Jenda_ 3y ago
> But in czech language word for Bohemia region is "Czechia" (there is no Bohemia). No. Bohemia is Čechy, Czechia is Česko. Yes, they are sometimes confused, and maybe people are unhappy with Česko because it's just too similar to Čechy. People from Moravia and Silesia feel underrepresented when someone mistakenly uses "Čechy" (Bohemia) for the entire Česko (Czechia; Bohemia+Moravia+Silesia).