Carnatic
/kɑːrˈnætɪk/noun
Relating to the Carnatic region of southern India or its classical music tradition.
Did you know?'Carnatic' is the English form of a regional name that passed through Portuguese and ultimately traces back to an older South Indian place-name, showing how colonial languages preserved local geography in transformed sound.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient/Medieval South India
Dravidian
Karnāṭaka / Karunāḍu (related regional forms)
“A regional name referring to the southern Indian inland country”
16th Century
Portuguese
Carnático
“A Portuguese rendering of the South Indian regional name”
17th Century
English
Carnatic
“Pertaining to the Carnatic region of India”
18th Century
English
Carnatic music
“The classical music tradition of South India”
Modern English
English
Carnatic
“Relating to southern India, especially the historical Carnatic region or its music tradition”
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