Carnic

Carnic is an English adjective and, less commonly, a noun used to refer to things associated with Carnia, a historic and geographical region in the eastern Italian Alps. The term appears in reference to the region’s geography, its historical inhabitants, and toponyms derived from the area. In some contexts it is used interchangeably with the name of the mountain range that lies there.

Geographically, the Carnic Alps are a mountain range in the eastern part of the Alps that forms part of the border region between Italy and Austria. They are part of the Southern Limestone Alps and include several peaks well over 2,000 meters, shaping local landscapes and watershed patterns in the area. The Italian name for the range is Alpi Carniche and the German name is Karnische Alpen.

Historically and ethnographically, the area was inhabited by Alpine communities collectively associated with the Carnici in ancient sources. Over time, the region came under Roman influence and later evolved through medieval and modern political changes. The Carnic region has a distinct cultural and linguistic history within the broader Alpine context.

Usage notes: in English, Carnic is most often encountered in regional names such as the Carnic Alps or Carnia. In geology, the closest related term is Carnian, which names a Late Triassic stage and is itself derived from the same Carnia region; Carnic as a standalone geologic term is uncommon.