What's in a Prague street name

Every street in Prague, one by one.

1933

  • Prague 4, day 262: Psohlavců

    Psohlavců was built in 1933. ‘Psohlavci’ would translate as ‘dog-heads’, which may have you hoping that I’m going to write about a film from 1994 or thereabouts which has some of the lowest ratings possible on Rotten Tomatoes, ČSFD, etc., but which you loved when you were ten years old. In which case, sorry to Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 132: Procházkova

    Procházkova was built in 1933. The street is believed to be named after a soldier called Josef Procházka, killed during World War One. However, at least ten men with that name died during battle, and so it’s not possible to get more specific. This means it was not named after the composer and pianist Josef Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 85: Sevřená

    Sevřená was built in 1933, but not given a name until 1957. ‘Sevřít’ means to clench (something), to press (two things) together, to clamp, squeeze, etc. To ‘sevřít’ [insert name here] ‘v náručí’ is to take them in your arms; to ‘sevřít’ (something) ‘pevněji’ is to tighten your grip on it. The street, meanwhile, located between Continue reading

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  • Prague 3, day 106: U Památníku

    Originally published on Twitter on 7 August 2022. U Památníku was built in 1933, and translate as ‘at the memorial’. The ‘memorial’ in question is the National Monument on Vítkov Hill. It contains the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a ceremonial hall, and an exhibition on Czech/Czechoslovak statehood. However, it’s most famous for its statue Continue reading

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  • Prague 3, day 67: Jilmová

    Originally published on Twitter on 29 June 2022. Jilmová was built in 1933. Did you really think we were done with the trees? This is one case where the Czech and English words are actually quite similar – a jilm is an elm. Elms have been in Czech territory for 12,000 years, i.e. even longer Continue reading

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  • Prague 3, day 33: Spojovací

    Originally published on Twitter on 26 May 2022. Spojovací was created in 1933. The literal translation would be ‘connecting’, although Google Translate seriously wants me to consider ‘syndetic’. Which is awesome. Spojovací was created by literally joining two other roads: Lipanská (there is another Lipanská in Žižkov, of course) and Husova. Not That Lipanská was, Continue reading

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