Wojciech

Wojciech (IPA: [ˈvɔjt͡ɕɛx] ) is a Polish name, equivalent to Czech Vojtěch [ˈvojcɛx] and Slovak Vojtech. The name is formed from two Slavic roots: wój (Slavic: voj), a root pertaining to war. It also forms words like wojownik ("warrior") and wojna ("war"). ciech (from an earlier form, tech), meaning "joy". The resulting combination means "he who enjoys war" or "joyous warrior". Its Polish diminutive forms include Wojtek [ˈvɔjtɛk] , Wojtuś [ˈvɔjtuɕ], Wojtas, Wojcio, Wojteczek, Wojcieszek, Wojtaszka, Wojtaszek, Wojan (noted already in 1136), Wojko, and variants noted as early as 1400, including Woytko, Woythko, and Voytko. Related names in South Slavic languages include Vojko, Vojislav, and Vojteh. The name has been rendered into German in several different variations, including: Woitke, Voitke, Voytke, Woytke, Vogtke, Woytegk, Woytek, Wogtke, Woetke, Wötke, and Wotke. It appears as Woyzeck in the play of that name by Georg Büchner. A variant form is Wozzeck, the result of confusion due to the similarity of the letters ⟨y⟩ and ⟨z⟩ in Sütterlin handwriting; this form is used as the name of the opera by Alban Berg, based on Büchner's play. The name day for individuals named Wojciech is 23 April.