Welcome to our new series, Made in Czechia, where we’ll explore unique contributions that the Czech Republic has given to the world. Whether you live in the Czech Republic or are just curious about this small but culturally rich country in the heart of Europe, you’re in for some surprising discoveries.

Let’s begin with a word that has become synonymous with modern technology—“robot.”

The word “robot” was first introduced by Czech writer Karel Čapek in his 1920 play R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots). In the play, robots are artificial beings created by humans to serve them, reflecting today’s concept of robots as machines designed to perform tasks for humans. Interestingly, the word “robot” comes from the Czech word “robota”, which means forced labor or hard work.

Thanks to Čapek, “robot” found its way into the English language. From there, it became a part of global technological vocabulary. Who would have thought that one of the most commonly used words in modern technology has such deep Czech roots?

It’s remarkable that a simple word from the Czech language has become a cornerstone of technological terminology across the globe.

If you didn’t know this before, now you do! Stay tuned for more posts where we’ll explore other fascinating facts about the Czech Republic.