Matterhorn
/ˈmæt.ər.hɔːrn/noun
A famous mountain in the Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy.
Did you know?Matterhorn comes from the nearby town of Zermatt, whose name ultimately means “at the meadow” or “at the pasture,” so the mountain’s identity is tied to a grazing place, not ancient mountain magic.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Roman / Celtic
Unknown
*mat-
“A likely pre-Roman or local base related to a meadow or pasture name, preserved in the place-name Zermatt.”
Medieval German
German
Matt
“Meadow, pasture.”
Medieval German
German
Horn
“Horn; by extension, a pointed peak or mountain summit.”
14th-19th Century
German
Matterhorn
“The pointed mountain above Zermatt, literally the “meadow peak.””
19th Century
English
Matterhorn
“The English name adopted for the iconic Alpine peak.”