They are based on forgotten words, natural conditions, but also the nature of the people who lived here, and sometimes also swearing. Ancient legends and language experts reveal the origin of the name of the largest cities in the Czech Republic.

Somewhat arid Prague

When the famous Czech chronicler Kosmas was born in 1045, Prague had existed for some centuries. And with it the legend of its founding, which Kosmas mentions in his notes.

The name is said to have originated when a certain man carved the threshold of his house many years ago, which was one of the first on the site of today’s Prague Castle. “Kosmas wrote in his chronicle at the time.

The revivalist and philologist Josef Dobrovský in the 18th century derived the name from the river sills on the Vltava and the Brusnice stream. In that case, however, the capital would be called Prague or Prague. Researchers of the 19th century come up with versions that the name Prague is related to the word roast, a roasted, burnt, eradicated forest, used to create a new dwelling.

Another linguist of speculation was added by the Czech linguist Antonín Profous. In his lifelong, extraordinarily comprehensive so-called Profous’s Dictionary, in which he examines the origin of the names of Czech municipalities and cities, he writes:

Brno mud and clay

In addition to the already mentioned Prague, Princess Libuše also foretold the founding of the city of Brno, saying: “There you will find a man with a leg. Build a city there and name it Brno. “

It would be an interesting legend, but this prophecy appears only in the theatrical play FR Čech Girl’s War. So, of course, it’s a joke. Linguists have their theories.

While Prague was founded in a dry place, Brno probably in a damp, swampy place, which corresponds to the Old Slovak word brn, ie mud, clay, clay or sludge. Such a version is also supported by the designations of some local parts of Brno – Slatina, Hlinky (clay pit), Žabovřesky (ie the place where frogs scream) or Komárov, an area with mosquitoes.

On the contrary, according to experts, the name Brno is incorrectly derived from the Celtic word Eburodunom and the Germanic Brunne (well).

“Submissive” Pilsen

The name Plzeň used to bear the town we now know as Starý Plzenec. However, when in the past this settlement could no longer adequately protect the safety of the nearby country path, a new Pilsen, then called the New Pilsen, was founded in the neighborhood around 1295.

In order not to confuse the cities, the original Pilsen was given the nickname Stará and, according to the “guy-boy” model, the diminutive suffix -ec, which created Starý Plzenec.

The very origin of the name Pilsen as such has several versions. For example, the fact that the settlement originated in a “Pilsen”, slippery and humid place. The medieval variant is the origin of the word snail, so many snails lived here. But the city should be called Plzen.

Weekly 5plus2 Free every Friday Reading about interesting people, events and unusual events in the regions.

Or that it originated from the Russian “Pilsen”, ie landslide or rampart. Antonín Profous comes up with an original explanation. Pilsen is said to be named after the personal name Pilsen, the so-called Pilsen Castle or court.

“The Czech name Plzen meant crawling, crawling and figuratively submissive,” explains the linguist.

Zlín as a bad person and a victim

Let’s stay in Moravia for a while, move to Wallachia with its center in Zlín. This name is first mentioned in 1322 as Slyn. It was derived from the Old Bohemian, perhaps mainly masculine, personal name of Evil, which meant “evil man”.

So the gas was Evil’s court or property. From the adjective evil, several personal names arose in Czech, such as Zlech, and transferred to the village, Zlechov. Old Zlín legends derive the name of their city from the bad events that happened to the people there, or according to the clayey “saliva” soil.

Jihlava full of hedgehogs

Today, the hedgehog’s coat of arms is dominated by a hedgehog. It is his needles quite possibly still the name of today’s Vysočina center. Jihlava, formerly a river and then a settlement, used to be written as Jiglava, so linguists follow the interpretation of the Old Slavic word “jegla” or needle.

The inhabitants of that time called the pointed stones on the river day with needles. It is also possible that Jihlava was named after the Langobard tribe, which lived here in the 6th century and then went to the north of Italy. Their words “Igulaha” meant “hedgehog stream”.

According to another interpretation, the river was named after the needles that floated on the bottom and on the surface. However, there are rumors that workers found a large number of hedgehogs when founding the city. Both the Czechs and the Moravians called the petty omnivore Gehlak, and Gehlawa was born from that. The Germans call hedgehogs “Igel” and still call Jihlava Iglau.