Kaukasische

Kaukasische is the German adjective meaning “Caucasian” and is used to describe things related to the Caucasus region. In German, it appears in phrases such as kaukasische Völker, kaukasische Sprachen, or kaukasische Region, indicating geographic, ethnic, linguistic, or cultural associations.

Geographically, the term refers to the area between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, notably the Greater Caucasus mountain range. The region is commonly divided into the North Caucasus (part of Russia) and the South Caucasus (the countries of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan), along with a broad array of ethnic groups and communities that inhabit surrounding areas. The Caucasus is noted for its high ethnolinguistic diversity and complex historical interactions among peoples.

Linguistically, the Caucasus hosts several distinct language families. The three major are Kartvelian (South Caucasian), Northwest Caucasian, and Northeast Caucasian (Nakh–Dagestanian), in addition to minority Indo-European languages such as Armenian. The term kaukasische Sprachen is used in linguistic contexts to refer to languages spoken across this region, though classification schemes vary and the area is known for its linguistic complexity and density of languages per square kilometer.

Culturally, the Caucasus has a long history of independent and interacting communities, including Georgians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Circassians, Chechens, Avars, Lezgins, and many others. The region is characterized by a rich heritage in music, art, cuisine, traditional crafts, and social structures, with local customs often preserving ancient practices alongside influences from broader regional exchanges.

Etymology and usage: the term derives from Caucasus, itself from Latin, with possible roots in older local terms. In modern German, kaukasisch is a neutral geographic and cultural descriptor, whereas historical racial classifications using “Kaukasisch” or “Kaukasische Rasse” are regarded as obsolete and sensitive.