What's in a Prague street name

Every street in Prague, one by one.

Praha 4

  • Prague 4, day 202: Jasná I

    Jasná I was built in 1938. ‘Jasná’ translates as ‘clear’ or ‘bright’ or ‘radiant’, which whoever named the street clearly thought was one of its main characteristics. In 1960, the street, originally known as Jasná, was split into Jasná I and… well, you might have guessed and are more than welcome to skip the post Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 201: U dubu

    U dubu was built in 1925. A ‘dub’ is an oak tree. Once upon a time, Slavs venerated oak trees which were dedicated to Perun, who was the god of the sky, thunder, lightning, storms, rain, law, war and, yes, oak trees (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2023/12/23/prague-3-day-183-perunova/). But oaks aren’t just important to the Slavs – the oak is Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 200: Roškotova  

    Roškotova  was built in 1990. Kamil Roškot was born in Vlašim in 1886; as a teenager, he studied at the gymnasium on Křemencova (Bohemia’s first Realgymnasium – see https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/09/13/prague-1-day-100-kremencova/). From 1904 to 1910, he studied civil engineering at Prague’s German Technical University, while taking part-time architecture classes at the Czech counterpart. This was followed by further Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 199: Park Adolfa Borna

    Park Adolfa Borna was opened in 2020. Adolf Born was born in České Velenice in 1930 – which was formerly one town along with Gmünd, which is now not only a separate town but is across the border in Austria. In his late teens, he started studying art education at the Faculty of Education at Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 198: Saveljevova 

    Saveljevova was built in 1979. Mikhail Ivanovich Savelyev was born in 1896 in Poyarkovo, a village in Ryazan Governorate, Russia. From the age of twelve, he worked in a butcher’s shop in Moscow. In 1915, he was drafted into the army; after the October Revolution of 1917, he was involved in the disarmament of counterrevolutionary officers. Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 197: Pod srázem

    Pod srázem was built in 1998. Hey, Prague 4! Can you get these people a street sign, or, if there is one, place it where it’s not covered by greenery (while please not getting rid of the greenery)? Street sign or no street sign, the street is under a ‘sráz’, i.e. a steep slope or Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 196: V křovinách

    V křovinách was built in 1955. ‘Křovina’ translates as ‘shrub’, ‘bush’ (both individual) or ‘shrubbery’ (general). The area round here, covered in the stuff, was also once known as V křovinách. Synonyms include ‘keř’ and ‘křoví’, although the latter has some interesting additional meanings that the other words don’t. On stage, it can designate a Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 195: Srázná

    Srázná was built in 1955. ‘Srázná’ translates as ‘steep’ or ‘precipitous’, and describes the geographical location of the street. Another word for the same concept is ‘příkrá’, as in https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2025/10/07/prague-4-day-191-prikra/. It’s nothing to do with a ‘sraz’, i.e. a meeting. A word that I learned a few years back when somebody clearly got a digit Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 194: U Dobešky

    U Dobešky was built in 1947. Quick one today: the street is located near Dobeška, a former farmstead already mentioned on https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2025/10/08/prague-4-day-192-na-dobesce/. Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 193: Zapadlá

    Zapadlá was built in 1925. ‘Zapadlá’ is an adjective with many potential translations, including (but not limited to) ‘fallen’, ‘remote’, ‘out-of-the-way’, ‘sunken’ and ‘deep-set’. In 1925, when this was becoming a truly residential area, it was decided that this was a good way to describe the street in relation to all the construction taking place. Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 192: Na Dobešce

    Na Dobešce was built in 1925. It’s been said that this is named after a massive oak tree in the vicinity (an oak is a ‘dub’, and more on that in a few streets’ time). However, for the other story, we can go to the 1931 writings of Karel Čapek (see https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/01/30/prague-2-day-24-sady-bratri-capku/ for a post Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 191: Příkrá

    Příkrá was built in 1925. ‘Příkrá’ means ‘steep’ or ‘precipitous’, and this describes the slope the street is on (and why it includes steps). Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 190: U pražských lomů

    U pražských lomů was named before 1938. I’m not too sure if it has a street sign, and it definitely fits into the ‘street? really?’ category. For this one, I’m going to take you back to https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2025/10/02/prague-4-day-187-nad-lomem/, AKA I Want To Know What Lom Is (sorry). Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 189: U háje

    U háje was built in 1925. A ‘háj’ is a a grove; you may also know its diminutive form, ‘hájek’ (but note that, no, Mexican-American actress and producer Salma Hayek doesn’t have secret Czech roots – her father is of Lebanese descent). This area used to be a grove; while there’s still a good deal of Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 188: Kovriginova

    Kovriginova was built in 1977. I want to start this one by taking you to https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2025/09/20/prague-4-day-178-goncarenkova/, and the story of when Soviet tanks entered Prague in May 1945. As well as Honcharenko, the crew of tank no. 24 included a loader, Nikolai Kovrigin. According to an article published earlier this year by a local newspaper Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 187: Nad lomem

    Nad lomem was built in 1925. Braník is known for the Branické skály, or the Braník Rocks, designated as natural monument in 1968. From the 1700s (maybe earlier) until 1928, limestone was mined round here. Mining involves quarries, and the Czech for ‘quarry’ is ‘lom’ – hence this street being ‘Above the quarry’. However, wander Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 186: Vysoká cesta

    Vysoká cesta was named in 1911. ‘Vysoká cesta’ translates as ‘high road’, and, in relation to the terrain directly to the west, this is accurate. Though it kind of blows my mind that anywhere that looks like this qualifies for street status at all. My mind is equally blown by the villa at number 24 Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 185: Modřanská

    In 1178, Soběslav II, Duke of Bohemia, declared that he was giving the Vyšehrad Chapter (https://whatsinapraguestreetname.com/2024/08/24/prague-2-day-94-k-rotunde/) a gift – some land in Modřany. This is the earliest confirmed mention of the place. The origin of the name isn’t clear, but experts think it may have been named after the ‘hyacint modrý’, the blue hyacinth. Further Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 184: Veslařský ostrov

    Veslařský ostrov was first mentioned in 1420. A ‘veslař’ is a rower or oarsman; an ‘ostrov’ is an island. Around here, the riverbed of the Vltava used to get blocked by ice; sand accumulated as a result and, ultimately, this island was formed. The noble Schwarzenberg family set up a raft port and warehouse here; Continue reading

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  • Prague 4, day 183: Na Kavčích horách

    Na Kavčích horách was built in 1925. I don’t know if it has a street sign, and felt like I might be walking on private property anyway, as fairly well proven by this picture, so I decided it was wise to stop looking for one. We already discussed the origin of the name Kavčí hory Continue reading

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