Hörnle

Hörnle is a common toponym in German-speaking regions, used for hills, small mountains, or rock formations. The name literally means “little horn,” derived from horn meaning peak and the diminutive suffix -le, a formation common in Alemannic and southern Bavarian dialects. As a geographic label, Hörnle usually points to a distinctive, horn-shaped projection that serves as a local landmark or viewpoint.

In use, Hörnle appears across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, often near villages or in foothill and alpine landscapes. Because it is a generic term rather than a single feature, many different elevations share the name, and maps typically disambiguate them by adding the nearby town, region, or mountain range (for example, Hörnle near a particular municipality or within a specific range). The features designated Hörnle are frequently part of hiking routes, nature reserves, or recreational areas, reflecting their role as local points of reference rather than major peaks.

The term also has cognate forms in regional dialects, and similar diminutive names are used in related German-speaking areas. In Swiss German, a closely related form commonly appears as Hörnli, indicating the same idea of a small horn or peak. See also Hörnli.