Ostravak

English translation: Ostravan

11:06 May 15, 2009
Czech to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Tourism & Travel
Czech term or phrase: Ostravak
I need to know how to call the lovely people of Ostrava. There are generally two schools of thought, but who can come up with grammatical proof of the proper one...or can there by more than one word?
Scott Evan Andrews
United States
Local time: 12:44
English translation:Ostravan
Explanation:
is what I'd opt with a gun to my head, given that an "inhabitant of Ostrava" is probably not colloquial enough.

I had this problem before with a different region ending in -a, and decided to treat such cases as often as I could as if they were from Alabama: http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/ALABAMAN

(why not Alabamians? Because they're not from Alabamia (I admit this is not a semantically sound rule, but nevertheless it is one I like to apply as often as possible)

(Of course, if context allows 'Ostravaks' might be even better, but only if it is absolutely clear the inhabitants are meant. E.g.: Östrava is blabla and many a Ostravak enjoys blabla in the shade in summer... )
Selected response from:

vic voskuil
Netherlands
Local time: 12:44
Grading comment
I've checked with many resources in and outside of Kudoz, this would be the most accepted, but there's no way to say Ostravian or Ostravak is wrong...It has a nicer ring to it to me, like spisovny Ostravan in Czech. Thanks for your help.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +2Ostravan
vic voskuil
4inhabitant of Ostrava
Pavel Prudký
3 +1Ostravian
Martin Bednarski
3Ostrava citizen
Michaela Bordessoule
3"Ostravak"
Pavel Blann


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
inhabitant of Ostrava


Explanation:
I would not try anything else...

Pavel Prudký
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in CzechCzech
PRO pts in category: 4
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28 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Ostravan


Explanation:
is what I'd opt with a gun to my head, given that an "inhabitant of Ostrava" is probably not colloquial enough.

I had this problem before with a different region ending in -a, and decided to treat such cases as often as I could as if they were from Alabama: http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/ALABAMAN

(why not Alabamians? Because they're not from Alabamia (I admit this is not a semantically sound rule, but nevertheless it is one I like to apply as often as possible)

(Of course, if context allows 'Ostravaks' might be even better, but only if it is absolutely clear the inhabitants are meant. E.g.: Östrava is blabla and many a Ostravak enjoys blabla in the shade in summer... )

vic voskuil
Netherlands
Local time: 12:44
Works in field
Native speaker of: Dutch
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
I've checked with many resources in and outside of Kudoz, this would be the most accepted, but there's no way to say Ostravian or Ostravak is wrong...It has a nicer ring to it to me, like spisovny Ostravan in Czech. Thanks for your help.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Martin Bednarski: It looks that Ostravan would be more appropriate than Ostravian (as in Geneva - Genevan)
3 mins
  -> thank you Martin! Also for an example better than the one I chose

agree  Helena Pechackova: I like the fact that it sounds like te proper Czech name and the reasoning behind it makes perfect sense to me.
81 days
  -> thanks Helena!
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13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Ostravian


Explanation:
could work (as in Tacoma/Tacomians, Pasadena/Pasadenians) if you really need a single word, otherwise I would go for "inhabitant of Ostrava" or similar

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 28 mins (2009-05-15 11:34:30 GMT)
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Possibly also "Ostravan" as in Geneva -> Genevan

Martin Bednarski
Czech Republic
Local time: 12:44
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in CzechCzech

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  vic voskuil: even though I prefer -an over -ian, I can imagine enough sentences where -ian simply sounds better...
38 mins
  -> thanks! but I now actually prefer Ostravan ;-)
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28 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Ostrava citizen


Explanation:
example: Manchester citizens have got the first chance...

Michaela Bordessoule
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:44
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in CzechCzech

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  vic voskuil: Are those the same as Mancunians? ;)
8 mins
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
"Ostravak"


Explanation:
I'd leave it as it is

Pavel Blann
Czech Republic
Local time: 12:44
Native speaker of: Czech
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