Etymology of Prague?

[Marc L. Greenberg]

According to Sorin Paliga ("Are there 'Urbian' elements in Slavic?",
Slavisticna revija 40/3: 309-313), Praha (< *praga) is one of a number of
Old European place names based on the root *P-R-/*B-R-, which have the
meaning 'stone, cliff, peak, mountain.' Parallels elsewhere in Europe
include Greek Parnassos, Parnasus, Parnasos, Paros; Thracian Baris, Barium,
Berginium; Romanian (via Thracian) Paring, Birgau, Persani, Pereg, Baragun;
Italic Bergomum, Berigema, Bargala, Burgulum; Iberian barranco. If Paliga
is right, Praha/Prague has no Slavic etymology: the name preceded both the
Celtic and Slavic settlements.
Best regards,
Marc L. Greenberg
=======================
Marc L. Greenberg
Chair and Professor
Dept. of Slavic Languages & Literatures
University of Kansas
1445 Jayhawk Blvd. - Rm. 2134
Lawrence, KS 66045-7590
USA
E-mail: mlg at ku.edu
Tel. (785) 864-2349
Fax: (785) 864-4298

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