Czechia is the English version of the Czech Republic, which is a landlocked country in Central Europe.
The Czech Republic is one of the most popular European countries to visit, as it’s known for its natural beauty and historical landmarks. However, many people aren’t aware that this country has an official name change in English. It’s no secret that the Czech Republic has a rather long name, but it was recently shortened to Czechia by its government. Why did they make this decision? And why does the country have two names in English? Here’s everything you need to know about the official name change from Czech Republic to Czechia.
What is Czechia?
Czechia is one of many variations of the country’s name that are used in English. Others include The Czech Republic, The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, and The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
The most common variation used by travelers is The Czech Republic (the full name), while some others may use either or both of these other names. All three variations are correct and mean the same thing.
How did this happen?
In 2009, a law was passed by the parliament in Prague that allowed for their official short form to be changed from “The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic” (in English) to “Czechia.” This law was passed so that people would be able to more easily refer to their home country when talking about sports teams or other competitions taking place there.
