Are you planning a trip to the stunning city of Prague but don’t know how to pronounce it correctly? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Many people struggle with the pronunciation of this beautiful city’s name.
First things first, let’s get the correct pronunciation out of the way. The correct way to say Prague is “prah-guh,” with the emphasis on the first syllable. Now that we have that cleared up, let’s dive into why this city has such a confusing name and how its pronunciation evolved over time.
Why is it called Prague?
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Its name in Czech is Praha, which has been in use since the 9th century. The origins of the name are unclear, but it is believed to come from an old Slavic word “praga,” meaning “ford” or “shallow crossing.”
Evolution of Pronunciation
The pronunciation of Prague has undergone several changes over time due to various linguistic influences. In Old Czech, before the 14th century, it was pronounced as “praga.” During the Hussite Wars in the early 15th century, when Prague became a center of Protestant reformism, its pronunciation changed to “praha.”
During Austria-Hungary’s rule over Bohemia (now Czech Republic) from 1526-1918, German became an official language alongside Czech. In German, Prague was spelled and pronounced as “Prag,” which influenced Czech pronunciation once again. This led to a hybrid pronunciation that sounded like “prahg” in Czech.
After World War I and the establishment of independent Czechoslovakia in 1918, efforts were made to revive traditional Czech language and culture. As a result, there was a push towards pronouncing words more accurately according to their original Czech pronunciation. This led to the modern pronunciation of “prah-guh” that is commonly used today.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the correct way to say Prague is “prah-guh,” with the emphasis on the first syllable. Its name originates from an old Slavic word meaning “ford” or “shallow crossing.” The pronunciation of Prague has evolved over time due to various linguistic influences, including Germanization and efforts towards Czech language revival.
Now that you know how to say Prague correctly, you can confidently plan your trip and impress the locals with your newfound knowledge. Happy travels!
- Tip: When in doubt, ask a local for help with pronunciation.
- Fun fact: Prague Castle is one of the largest castles in the world and has been the seat of power for Czech rulers for over 1,000 years.
Sources:
- “Prague.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., n.d. Web.
02 Sept. 2021.
- “Prague Castle.” Prague City Tourism. N.p. 02 Sept.
10 Related Question Answers Found
In this article, we will answer the question that many travelers have: How do you say Prague? If you’ve ever found yourself unsure of the correct pronunciation of this beautiful city in the heart of Europe, you’re not alone. Let’s dive into the pronunciation and learn how to say Prague with confidence.
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