Kde domov můj Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Kde domov můj
English: Where My Home Is
Škroup’s score of the original song
National anthem of	the Czech Republic Former co-national anthem of Czechoslovakia
Lyrics	Josef Kajetán Tyl, 1834
Music	František Škroup, 1834
Adopted	1918, 1990

"Kde domov můj" (meaning "Where My Home Is" in English) is the official national anthem of the Czech Republic. A national anthem is a special song that represents a country. This song was created by the composer František Škroup and the writer Josef Kajetán Tyl.

History of the Czech National Anthem
Lyrics of the National Anthem
- Original Full Lyrics
- Former Czechoslovak Anthem Lyrics
Images for kids
See also

History of the Czech National Anthem

How the Song Began

The song "Kde domov můj" was first written for a funny play called Fidlovačka, or No Anger and No Brawl. It was like background music for the play. The first time it was performed was on December 21, 1834, in Prague. A singer named Karel Strakatý sang it.

The song originally had two parts, called verses. At first, the writer Josef Kajetán Tyl wasn't sure if the song was good enough. But people loved it! It quickly became very popular among Czech people. They started to see it as an unofficial anthem for their nation. At that time, Czechs were trying to bring back their own culture and language, which is known as the Czech National Revival. They were part of a big empire called the Habsburg monarchy.

The Anthem of Czechoslovakia

In 1918, a new country was formed called Czechoslovakia. It brought together Czechs and Slovaks. "Kde domov můj" became the first part of Czechoslovakia's national anthem. The second part was a Slovak song called "Nad Tatrou sa blýska".

These two songs showed what was important to both nations. They helped people feel proud of their heritage. During this time, many different groups lived in the Habsburg Monarchy, like Germans and Hungarians. The new country, the First Republic, had many languages and cultures. So, the anthem was even translated into Hungarian and German for everyone to understand.

The Anthem Today

In December 1992, Czechoslovakia split into two separate countries: the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Because of this, the old anthem was also divided. Slovakia added a second verse to its anthem. But the Czech Republic decided to keep "Kde domov můj" as its anthem with only the first verse.

Lyrics of the National Anthem

The national anthem of the Czech Republic uses only the first verse of the original song. Here are the words in Czech and their English translation.

Czech original	Official English translation
Kde domov můj, kde domov můj, Voda hučí po lučinách, bory šumí po skalinách, v sadě skví se jara květ, zemský ráj to na pohled! A to je ta krásná země, země česká domov můj, země česká domov můj!	Where my home is, where my home is, Water roars across the meadows, Pinewoods rustle among rocks, The orchard is glorious with spring blossom, Paradise on earth it is to see. And this is that beautiful land, The Czech land, my home, The Czech land, my home!

Original Full Lyrics

The original song from the play Fidlovačka had two verses. Here are both verses with their English translations.

Czech original	Poetic English translation
I Kde domov můj, kde domov můj, voda hučí po lučinách, bory šumí po skalinách, v sadě skví se jara květ, zemský ráj to na pohled! A to je ta krásná země, země česká domov můj, země česká domov můj! II Kde domov můj, kde domov můj, v kraji znáš-li bohumilém duše útlé v těle čilém, mysl jasnou, vznik a zdar a tu sílu vzdoru zmar, to je Čechů slavné plémě mezi Čechy domov můj! mezi Čechy domov můj!	I Where my home is, where my home is, Streams are rushing through the meadows, Midst the rocks sigh fragrant pine groves, Orchards decked in spring's array, Scenes of paradise portray. And this land of wondrous beauty, Is the Czech land of my home, Is the Czech land of my home! II Where my home is, where my home is, If, in the heavenly land, you have met Slender souls in spry bodies, Of clear mind, vigorous and prospering, And with a strength that frustrates all defiance, That is the glorious nation of Czechs Among the Czechs (is) my home! Among the Czechs, my home!

Former Czechoslovak Anthem Lyrics

From 1918 to 1992, the anthem of Czechoslovakia included the first verse of "Kde domov můj" and the first verse of the Slovak song "Nad Tatrou sa blýska".

Czech and Slovak original	English translation
Stanza 1 (Kde domov můj)
Kde domov můj, kde domov můj, voda hučí po lučinách, bory šumí po skalinách, v sadě skví se jara květ, zemský ráj to na pohled! A to je ta krásná země, země česká domov můj, země česká domov můj!	Where my home is, where my home is, Water roars across the meadows, Pinewoods rustle among crags, The garden is glorious with spring blossom, Paradise on earth it is to see. And this is that beautiful land, The Czech land, my home, The Czech land, my home!
Stanza 2 (Nad Tatrou sa blýska)
Nad Tatrou sa blýska, hromy divo bijú Nad Tatrou sa blýska, hromy divo bijú Zastavme sa, bratia, veď sa ony stratia, Slováci ožijú. Zastavme sa, bratia, veď sa ony stratia, Slováci ožijú.	There is lightning over the Tatras, thunders wildly beat, There is lightning over the Tatras, thunders wildly beat. Let's stop, brethren, after all they'll disappear, the Slovaks will revive. Let's stop, brethren, after all they'll disappear, the Slovaks will revive.

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Coat of arms of the Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938)

Kde domov můj facts for kids

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