As I understnad it, the natiponal name of the Czech Repoublic in Czech is Cesky, with a hacek over the C, poronounced roughly “CHESS-key.” The English moniker picks up the article from being a desc4ritor – it’s “the Czech Republic.”
In this regard it’s worth noting that the long form of national names, rarely used in conversation or ‘third-party’ descriptive writing but required in formal direct address, as in official correspondence, generally does call for the article: “The Commonwealth of Australia”, “the Kingdom of Sweden”, “the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations”, “the Republic of South Africa.”
Funny thing about The Netherlands is that we in The Netherlands don’t use the plural (even though out official name - Koninkrijk der Nederlanden - does). In other lamguages I know (Spannish, French, German, English) they do use the plural…
THE United States used to be commonly called THESE United States in its earlier years when federalism was a weaker than it is today. The states are still semi-sovereign but they used to be thought of more as individual units who worked together rather than just subparts of a federal arrangement. Either word implies a collection but the shift was made as they become more unified.
I’ve never heard anyone say it that way. If “university” is at the end, I say “Ohio State University.” If “university” is at the beginning, then I do say “The University of Ohio.”
Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t realise there was someone on here who hasn’t got me on User Ignore.
In much the same way that it is easier to say “I ate an apple” than “I ate a apple” it’s easier to say “Obama is President of the United States” rather than “Obama is President of United States”
