"Czechia" and the Czech Republic
The official name for Slovakia is “The Slovak Republic”, though the less formal “Slovakia” is used almost equally. But what about the name for the Czech lands? Czechoslovakia was comprised of Bohemia, Moravia-Silesia, and Slovakia, (and Subcarpathian Rus until 1939). Today, Bohemia, Moravia, and parts of Silesia make up the Czech Republic. Sometimes I still have difficulty with saying “the Czech Republic” in a lengthier sentence when something shorter would do.
In my research for writing The Foreigner’s Guide to Living in Slovakia, I came across references of “Czechia” as the Czech Republic. There is even a website called Czechia.org and there I found this statement:
“Czechia is the official one-word name of the Czech Republic. In 1993 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in its memorandum to all Czech embassies and diplomatic missions recommended to use the full name “Czech Republic” only in official documents and titles of official institutions. In all other cases, the one-word name Czechia should be preferred.”
Ok then, I say. Let’s all start using “Czechia”. From now on I will be using it in sentences like, “Czechs and Slovaks live in Czechia and Slovakia.”
I do realize that multiple names do add to the confusion of just which Slavic countries are which in Central Europe. For example, it’s hard for the average person—and understandably so—to know that the Slovak Republic is also Slovakia, but not Slovenia. It’s easier for most to simply claim ignorance.
