What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on Twitter on 19 October 2022.

Květná was built in 1930.

‘Květná’ is an adjective derived from the word ‘květ’, which means flower. This is also why ‘May’ in Czech is ‘květen’.

However, it’s not an adjective I’ve ever seen elsewhere – ‘floral’ would typically be ‘květinový’ or, less typically, ‘květovaný’.

The street is so called because of the gardens accompanying its houses.

Wondering if Prague includes any streets that actually are named after months? Then read on.

Nědvezí, way out in Prague 22, has Lednová (January) and Únorová (February), with the easternmost end of the latter being at the city limits.

Meanwhile, Ďáblice, in Prague 8, has Březnová (March), Květnová (May), Červnová (June), Červencová (July), Srpnová (August), Zářijová (September), Říjnová (October) and Prosincová (December).

Poor April, though.

There’s a Dubnova in Háje, but the lack of accent on the ‘a’ means that this is the street of a certain Mr Duben, rather than being named after April.

Specifically Jaroslav Duben (1892-42), a communist politician and participant in the resistance, who died in prison in Bayreuth, Bavaria.

I forgot November!

Dolní Počernice has a Listopadová (November), after the Velvet Revolution.