The name Matterhorn means roughly “the peak in the meadows,” from the German words Matte (“meadow”) and Horn (“peak”); the Italian and French names likely allude to the antlers of a red deer (Italian: cervo; French: cerf). Category: Geography & Travel. Italian: Monte Cervino.

The name "Matterhorn" is derived from two German words: "Matte," meaning "meadow," and "Horn," meaning "peak." Specifically, it refers to the "peak overlooking the meadows." The "meadow" in question is the grassy valley where the town of Zermatt is located; in fact, the name "Zermatt" itself comes from zur Matte ("at the meadow"). In the local Swiss-German dialect, the mountain is often affectionately referred to simply as "ds Horu" (The Horn). The Matterhorn is one of the most recognizable mountains in the world due to its near-perfect pyramidal shape, with four distinct faces facing the four cardinal directions. In 2026, it remains a symbol of Swiss national identity and is the most photographed mountain in Europe. While the German name is the most famous, the mountain also has names in other languages: in Italian, it is called Cervino, and in French, it is known as Le Cervin. Interestingly, the Disney attraction based on the mountain also uses the German name, cementing the word "Matterhorn" in the global consciousness as the definitive title for this legendary Alpine giant.