Rhenish

Rhenish is an English adjective and noun referring to the Rhine river and its region in Western Europe. The term derives from the Latin Rhenus and is used to describe things associated with the Rhine valley, particularly the Rhineland in present-day Germany and adjacent territories along the river.

In English usage, Rhenish commonly denotes the Rhineland, including parts of modern states such as North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, as well as historical territories that bordered the Rhine, such as the former Rhine Province of Prussia. The scope of "Rhenish" can vary by context, sometimes extending to broader cultural or economic attributes tied to the Rhine basin.

In linguistics and anthropology, Rhenish refers to dialects spoken in the Rhine region. Rhenish dialects are part of the West Central German group and are often discussed as a family of Rhine-area varieties. The label can also appear in art, architecture, cuisine, and other cultural descriptors linked to Rhineland heritage.

Several organizations originated in or adopted the name Rhenish to reflect regional ties, such as the Rhenish Missionary Society, an historical Protestant mission society. The adjective is also found in ecclesiastical or regional designations within Germany and in historical references to the Rhineland.

As with many regional descriptors, Rhenish is context-dependent and may indicate geography, language, culture, or institutional affiliation tied to the Rhine.