Tauern

The word Tauern (German pronunciation: [ˈtaʊ̯ɐn] ⓘ) is German and originally meant 'high mountain pass' in the Austrian Central Alps, referring to the many bridleways and passes of the parallel side valleys of the River Salzach that cut into the mountain ranges.

From the Middle Ages, when mining reached its heyday, the word Tauern was also used to name the corresponding ranges.

The derivation of the name Tauern has been variously ascribed: If the name Tauern is pre-Slavic, it could possibly be Celtic, and thus presumably linked to the Taurisci, or it could be Illyrian, a collective term possibly for the pre- and early Celtic population in the Alpine region.

There is no clear link with the name of the municipality of Thaur near Innsbruck, which could be analogous to the Illyrian for 'rock', but could also be derived from the Rhaeto-Romance word Tgaura 'goat'.

It is common in English sources, however, just to use the original name without the adjectival inflexion: The High and Low Tauern together were historically called the Tauern Alps (Tauernalpen) and are still described as such in many sources today.