ðə skwˈɛɹ, ðˈɛn kˈɔːld plˈæts æm ˈɑːpɚnhˌaʊs ˈaɪ.ˈiː. skwˈɛɹ æt ðɪ ˈɑːpɚɹə hˈaʊs, wʌz lˈeɪd ˈaʊt bᵻtwˌiːn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi wˈʌn ænd wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd sˈɛvənhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi θɹˈiː ˌʌndɚ ðə ɹˈuːl ʌv kˈɪŋ fɹˈɛdɚɹˌɪk ɹˌoʊmən tˈuː ʌv pɹˈʌʃə.
The square, then called Platz am Opernhaus (i.e. square at the opera house), was laid out between 1741 and 1743 under the rule of King Frederick II of Prussia.