Prospekt (street)
A prospekt (Russian: проспе́кт, IPA: [prɐˈspʲekt] (
)) is a broad, multi-lane and very long straight street in urban areas. The term originated in the Russian Empire. It is often translated as avenue, however it can also be interpreted as parkway since it is common that a prospekt is the main city route. Under the Universal Decimal Classification it is classified as 625.712.1.
As an urban area sprawls along transportation routes, the roads outside of city limits called chaussée (French for road surface) often also become converted into prospekts.
History
In the first years of construction of St Petersburg (in the early 18th century), the city's broad ways were called "Russian: першпектива" (literally, visual or graphical perspective). One of the world-known prospekts of Petersburg is Nevsky Prospekt.
The name "prospekt" was widely used in the USSR where it was traditionally used for the main avenues in the newly constructed cities and cities’ blocks. Later on, the term came into the national languages of the Soviet Republics which became independent states in 1991.
Derivatives
In the 18th-19th century emigrants from the Russian Empire apparently brought this word to the United States. There the word "prospekt" mixed with its English counterpart "avenue" resulting in Prospect Avenue, a tautological combination from the Russian point of view.
- Prospect Avenue is a major north/south main street in Kansas City, Missouri.
- Prospect Avenue in the Bronx is an avenue and a New York City Subway station there.
- Meanwhile, in Brooklyn in addition to the local Prospect Avenue and the subway station of the same name there is also a Prospect Park and Prospect Park subway station — a toponym also known in Davenport and Des Moines in Iowa, in Massachusetts, Minnesota and some other states where its origin needs separate explanation.
Etymology
Russian lexicographer Vladimir Dal in his "Explanatory Dictionary of the Live Great Russian language" marked prospekt as a loanword from French. As it was mentioned, French and other European languages (English, German, Dutch) use perspe[c/k]tive, so from which of these languages was Russian "pershpektiva" borrowed in 1700s, it remains an open question.
Prospekt is cognate with the English term prospect, both derive from Latin prospectus "view, outlook". In the 18th century Russia, prospekt was used specifically for very long straight streets, especially in St Petersburg, because they afforded a spectacular view from one end to the other when looking down them.
See also
- Nevsky Prospekt
- Moskovsky Prospekt
- Kutuzovsky Prospekt
- Leningradsky Prospekt
- Avenue
- Link road
- Boulevard
- Alley
- Lane