Is Prague Pronounced as Praha?

By Robert Palmer

If you’ve ever talked about the capital city of Czech Republic, you might have come across a doubt – Is Prague pronounced as Praha? Well, the answer is simply yes.

What’s the reason behind it?

As you know, every language has its own pronunciation rules and similarly, the Czech language is no different. In Czech, the word for Prague is ‘Praha’, and it is pronounced differently than in English.

The Czech Pronunciation

In Czech, the letter ‘R’ is pronounced with a rolled tongue, while in English it’s not. The ‘H’ in Praha gets a softer pronunciation as well. So when spoken in its native language, ‘Praha’ sounds quite different than when spoken in English.

Why do we say Prague instead of Praha?

The reason for this difference is mainly due to the historical anglicization of foreign names that happened throughout history. When English-speakers first encountered Praha centuries ago, they altered it to fit with their own language’s pronunciation rules and eventually changed it to Prague.

The Bottomline

So yes, Praha and Prague refer to the same city. However, if you’re planning on visiting or talking about this beautiful city while conversing with locals or other travelers who are familiar with its pronunciation, it’s best to use Praha instead of Prague.

To Sum Up

  • Praha and Prague refer to the same city.
  • Praha is how locals pronounce it.
  • English speakers changed it to fit their own language’s pronunciation rules.
  • If you’re planning on visiting or talking about this beautiful city while conversing with locals or other travelers who are familiar with its pronunciation, it’s best to use Praha instead of Prague.

Conclusion

So, now you know that Prague is pronounced as ‘Praha’ in Czech. Knowing the proper pronunciation of a foreign city or place is an important aspect of culture and language, and it can help you in communicating effectively with the locals.