EN
The essay pays attention to the issue of understanding the term “folk music instrument” within the context of Czech musicological and ethnomusicological literature and its relation to social changes in the territory of the Czech Republic in the 20th century. As a certain way out of non-uniformity of definitions, the author offers using a periphrastic term “musical instruments of folk culture”, or “musical instruments of ethnocultural traditions”. The term “folk”, whose meaning underwent wide changes in European context during the last two centuries, is excluded because it is also very difficult to relate it to the social situation in the secod half on the 20th century. Musical instruments used within the corresponding space, become the content of musical and instrumental culture relating to the changed society and maintained ethnocultural traditions (original, transformed and modern ones). The functional point of view becomesthe main factor.