name

Kafka

KAF-kuh

Kafka (name) means a Czech surname, most famously borne by the writer Franz Kafka, known for his surreal and unsettling fiction. Example: “The professor assigned a novel by Kafka for the seminar.”

name

A Czech surname, most famously borne by the writer Franz Kafka, known for his surreal and unsettling fiction.

"The professor assigned a novel by Kafka for the seminar."

How to use Kafka

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe adjective "Kafkaesque," derived from this name, describes nightmarishly complex or illogical bureaucratic situations.

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The professor assigned a novel by _____ for the seminar.

Etymology

From German Kafka, from Czech German Kavka (“jackdaw”), from either Upper Sorbian or Lower Sorbian, which are ultimately from the Proto-Slavic *kavъka, imitating the call of a jackdaw. Compare Polish kawka, Czech kavka, Slovene kávka, all meaning “jackdaw”.

Origin: German

Frequently asked questions

What does “Kafka” mean?

The word “Kafka” means a Czech surname, most famously borne by the writer Franz Kafka, known for his surreal and unsettling fiction. In plain terms, the adjective "Kafkaesque," derived from this name, describes nightmarishly complex or illogical bureaucratic situations.

How do you pronounce “Kafka”?

“Kafka” is pronounced KAF-kuh (/ˈkɑfkɑ/ in IPA).

How do you use “Kafka” in a sentence?

Here is “Kafka” used in a sentence: “The professor assigned a novel by Kafka for the seminar.”

What part of speech is “Kafka”?

“Kafka” is a name.

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