CZECHIA versus CZECH REPUBLIC

Do you use the modern version of the name of our country – Czechia? I have to admit that neither in Czech nor in English do I say “I am from Czechia”. Yes, I hear Czechia or Česko more and more often.  

So, how to decide? If you’ve heard that Czechia is an unofficial name for the country and shouldn’t be used, you’ve succumbed to one of the most common myths about the Czech language.

When Czechoslovakia split in 1993, the Czech Republic and Czechia became the official names of the state. But Czechia is far from being new. If we look back in history, we find references to Czechia as early as 1704 in a collection of baroque songs. But it is true that this name has always been controversial. In the 1990s, most of the media avoided it. Václav Havel famously said: “The name ‘Czechia’ makes snails crawl all over me.”

The Czech Republic is a political name, while Czechia is a geographical one. Like the Czech Republic, other European countries have shorter geographical names. The Slovak Republic is commonly referred to as Slovakia, the Republic of Austria as Austria and the Republic of Hungary as Hungary.

Use the Czech Republic for political institutions, formal settings and international meetings. Czechia suits cultural, social, scientific, sporting, economic and other social events. For instance, the Czech national ice hockey team competes as Team Czechia.

How is Czechia (Česko) written in foreign languages? The following translations are listed in the UN database:

English – Czechia

French – Tchéquie (la)

Spanish – Chequia

Ukrainian – Чехія

Russian – Чехия

Arabic – تشيكيا

German – Tschechien

Greek – (η) Τσεχία

Turkish – Çekya

Over time, Czechia has become more common. The choice between Czechia and Czech Republic depends on context and personal preference. In less formal settings or when talking to  sports fans, it is probably easier to say Czechia. In formal and political contexts it is more appropriate to use the Czech Republic.

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