What's in a Prague street name

Originally published on X on 20 June 2024.

A ‘barva’ is a colour; it can also mean ‘dye’, although you will also hear ‘barvivo’ used for this.

A place where dyeing takes place – i.e. a dyeworks or a dyehouse – is a ‘barvírna’, whereas one who engages in this trade – i.e. a dyer – is a ‘barvíř’.

And it was in this street, conveniently located next to the Vltava, that dyers worked in the Middle Ages. Their guild also set up a meeting place in this street in 1477.

Apparently, ‘barvíř’ can also be used if you want to describe someone as a painter while also being incredibly disparaging about it/them.