Austria's Nickname: What Do Austrians Call Their Country?

Austria, officially the Republic of Austria, has a rich history and culture that dates back centuries. It is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps and sharing borders with several countries. While the country does not seem to have a widely recognised nickname, it has earned various titles over the years, including The Musical Centre of Europe and The Sunny Side of the Alps.

The origins of the name Austria

The name Austria is derived from the Latin term "Austria", which first appeared in the 12th century. However, the origins of the name go back much further and are steeped in the country's rich history and cultural diversity.

The Latinisation of a Germanic name

The name Austria is a Latinisation of the native German name "Österreich". The Latin term "Austria" was first recorded in the 12th century and is reminiscent of the native Latin term "auster", meaning "south". This similarity has led to some confusion, as "auster" in Latin means "south", while "ost" in German means "east". This linguistic quirk has resulted in Austria sharing a similar-sounding name with Australia, derived from the Latin "Terra Australis", meaning "southern land".

A realm in the east

The German name "Österreich" has older roots, stemming from the Old High German "Ostarrîchi", which translates to "eastern realm". This name was applied to the Margraviate of Austria, a borderland of the Duchy of Bavaria, in 976. The term "Ostarrîchi" is believed to be a translation of the Medieval Latin "Marchia orientalis" or "eastern borderland". This name likely originated from the much older Celtic languages of ancient Austria, according to 20th-century Austrian historian Friedrich Heer. He proposed that over 2,500 years ago, the major part of present-day Austria was called "Norig" by the Celtic Hallstatt culture, with "no-" or "nor-" meaning "east" and "-rig" related to the modern German "Reich", meaning "realm". Thus, "Norig" and "Ostarrîchi" essentially convey the same meaning.

A land of many names

Over the centuries, the name of the region evolved and appeared in various forms in official documents and common usage. The variant "Ostarrîchi" is known from a single usage in 996 in the so-called "Ostarrîchi Document". Later Medieval documents record the word as "Osterrîche" (official) or "Osterlant" (folk and poetic usage). The variation "Osterrîche" first appeared in 998, and "Marcha Osterriche" was used in a deed granted by Emperor Henry IV in 1058. The name "Austria" in its various forms has been adopted in most languages, including Hungarian, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Ukrainian, Russian, Serbian, Croatian, Polish, Slovene, Greek, Estonian, Turkish, and Albanian.

A land of many rulers

Austria's history as a multicultural realm is reflected in the diversity of its names. The country has been influenced by numerous cultures, including the Celts, Romans, Germanic tribes, and Slavs. The Slavic name "Ostravica", meaning 'pointed hill', and the Latin "Marchia orientalis" or "eastern borderland", highlight the region's geographical significance. The name "Ostmark", a translation of "Marchia Orientalis" into Standard German, was used officially from 1938 to 1945 when the country was incorporated into the German Reich. The contemporary state, established in 1955 with the Austrian State Treaty, is officially known as the Republic of Austria ("Republik Österreich").

The Austrian flag and its history

The Austrian flag is considered one of the oldest national symbols still used by a modern country, with its first recorded use in 1230. The flag is a triband, with three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red.

The flag's design dates back to the coat of arms of the medieval Babenberg dynasty, a silver band on a red field. The origin of the design is not conclusively established, but it may have been derived from the Otakar noble family, who ruled the Duchy of Styria. The Otakar family may have, in turn, adopted the colours from the Carinthian duke Adalbero, a scion of the House of Eppenstein.

The triband design is first documented in a seal on a deed issued on November 30, 1230, confirming the privileges of Lilienfeld Abbey. According to legend, the flag was invented by Duke Leopold V of Austria after the Siege of Acre. It is said that after a fierce battle, his white surcoat was completely drenched in blood, and when he removed his belt, the cloth beneath remained unstained, revealing the combination of red, white, and red.

The triband design was also used as the naval ensign and flag of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and Duchy of Modena and Reggio in the 18th and 19th centuries, respectively, as both were ruled by cadet branches of the House of Habsburg. The Austrian flag is also similar to the flags of several other places, including Bouillon and Leuven in Belgium, Vianden in Luxembourg, Latvia, Savona in Italy, Dordrecht, Gouda, Hoorn, and Leiden in the Netherlands, and Puerto Asís in Colombia.

The Austrian flag has undergone several changes throughout history. From the 13th century onwards, the combination of red, white, and red was widely considered the Austrian colours used by the ruling Habsburg dynasty. However, the black-yellow flag was used as the national flag of the Austrian Habsburg monarchy, the later Austrian Empire, and the Austrian part of Austria-Hungary until 1918. These were the family colours of the Imperial House of Habsburg.

With the end of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, Austria lost its imperial banners and was reduced to its present borders. The new republic adopted the simple red, white, and red flag, which reappeared in 1945 after seven years of Austrian amalgamation with Nazi Germany. The black imperial eagle, sometimes with one head and sometimes with two, has appeared on Austrian flags for hundreds of years and continues to recall the legacy of the nation. A broken chain was added to the legs of the eagle in 1945 as a symbol of freedom, along with a sickle and a hammer to represent peasants and workers, respectively.

The Austrian flag is almost always displayed with a width-to-length ratio of 2:3. When flown by the government, it incorporates a central black eagle. The Constitution of Austria does not specify the colour shades of the flag, but members of the Austrian Armed Forces are told that the red on the coat of arms is Pantone 186 C.

Austrian naming customs

Historically, Austrians were considered ethnic Germans and viewed themselves as such. Therefore, Austrian naming practices are usually German. However, considerable groups of Turks, Serbs, Croats, Slovenes, Hungarians, and other ethnic groups follow naming traditions from their own cultures.

In the past, it was a popular naming tradition to name the firstborn son after the father. While this tradition has largely shifted to using the father's name as the middle name, it continues in rural areas. Children may also be given middle names derived from their mother or other relatives' names.

Austrian surnames are passed down through the father's lineage. After marriage, a couple can choose to adopt either of their surnames as their new surname, with the default being the groom's surname. The partner who changes their surname may use their maiden name alongside their partner's, connected by a hyphen. For example, Julia Anja BAUER-SCHMIDT.

Some Austrian surnames display characteristics of the local dialect. For instance, some areas of Austria use diminutive endings such as -erl, -le, or -li. The name Schäuble, for example, has the diminutive '-le'.

Austrians have recently started choosing more popular English and international names. However, some traditional names like Anna and Lukas remain common.

Austria's geography and landscape

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous city and state. Austria is bordered by Germany to the northwest, the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia to the northeast, Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The country occupies an area of 83,879 square kilometres (32,386 square miles) and has a population of around 9 million.

Austria is a predominantly mountainous country, with approximately 60% of its territory belonging to the Eastern Alps. The Alps serve as a watershed for Europe's three major kinds of weather systems that influence Austrian weather. The Atlantic maritime climate from the northwest is characterised by low-pressure fronts, mild air from the Gulf Stream, and precipitation. It has the greatest influence on the northern slopes of the Alps, the Northern Alpine Foreland, and the Danube valley. The continental climate is characterised by low-pressure fronts with precipitation in summer and high-pressure systems with cold and dry air in winter. It affects mainly eastern Austria. Mediterranean high-pressure systems from the south are characterised by few clouds and warm air, and they influence the weather of the southern slopes of the Alps and that of the Southeastern Alpine Foreland, making them the most temperate part of Austria.

The major rivers north of the watershed of the Austrian Alps (the Inn in Tyrol, the Salzach in Salzburg, and the Enns in Styria and Upper Austria) are direct tributaries of the Danube and flow north into the Danube valley, whereas the rivers south of the watershed in central and eastern Austria (the Gail and Drau rivers in Carinthia and the Mürz and Mur in Styria) flow south into the drainage system of the Drau, which eventually empties into the Danube in Serbia. Consequently, central and eastern Austria are geographically oriented away from the watershed of the Alps: the provinces of Upper Austria and Lower Austria toward the Danube and the provinces of Carinthia and Styria toward the Drau.

Three major ranges of the Alps – the Northern Calcareous Alps, Central Alps, and Southern Calcareous Alps – run west to east through Austria. The Central Alps, which consist largely of a granite base, are the largest and highest ranges in Austria. The Central Alps run from Tyrol to approximately the Styria-Lower Austria border and include areas that are permanently glaciated in the Ötztal Alps on the Tyrolean-Italian border and the High Tauern in East Tyrol and Carinthia. The Northern Calcareous Alps, which run from Vorarlberg through Tyrol into Salzburg along the German border and through Upper Austria and Lower Austria toward Vienna, and the Southern Calcareous Alps, on the Carinthia-Slovenia border, are predominantly limestone and dolomite. At 3,797 metres, Großglockner is the highest mountain in Austria. As a general rule, the further east the Northern and Central Alps run, the lower they become. The altitude of the mountains also drops north and south of the central ranges.

The granite massif of the Bohemian Forest (known in German as the Böhmerwald), a low mountain range with bare and windswept plateaus and a harsh climate, is located north of the Danube Valley and covers the remaining 10% of Austria's area.

Austria is a land of lakes, many of them a legacy of the Pleistocene Epoch. The largest lakes—lying partly in the territory of neighbouring countries—are Lake Constance in the west and the marshy Neusiedler Lake in the east. Nearly all Austrian territory drains into the Danube River system.

Austrian culture and customs

Language and Communication

Austrian German is the official language of Austria and differs in vocabulary, pronunciation, and some grammar specifics from German as spoken in Germany. It is spoken by 98% of the population as a mother tongue. Other minority languages include Slovene, Croatian, and Hungarian.

Austrians value politeness but are generally less formal than their German neighbours. They tend to communicate in a less direct way, preferring to say things "durch die Blume" (literally: through the flower), meaning in a nice and subtle way.

Dance and Music

Austria is the home of classical music, with composers like Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. Vienna, the capital, is often referred to as the "City of Music".

Austria also has a rich folk music and dance scene, with styles such as Schuhplattler, Ländler, Polka, and Waltz.

Customs and Traditions

Family values and social etiquette are fundamental to Austrian culture. Austrians are known for their punctuality and precision in both professional and social contexts.

Austria has several unique traditions and celebrations, including the Krampuslauf, the Vienna Opera Ball, and the Salzburg Festival.

Food and Drink

Austrian cuisine includes hearty dishes with lots of meat, dumplings, sausages, and potatoes, served with rich gravies and sauces. Some famous examples are Wiener Schnitzel and Tafelspitz. Austrian cuisine also includes pastries and desserts, like the iconic Sachertorte, a dense chocolate cake with apricot jam.

Bread, sausages, and beer are important components of Austrian cuisine, with a variety of locally baked breads, flavoured sausages, and regional beers.

Work Culture

Austrians promote a healthy work-life balance, with generous vacation allowances and parental leave policies. Businesses often encourage breaks, and there is a general respect for personal time after work hours.

In business environments, greetings are formal, often accompanied by a handshake, and titles are common.

History

Austrian history begins with its early days as part of the Holy Roman Empire. From 1804 to 1867, Austria saw its most powerful phase under the Habsburg monarchy, and Vienna became a cultural centre. After World War I, the Austro-Hungarian Empire dissolved, and Austria became a smaller, independent republic. During World War II, Austria was annexed by Germany, regaining its independence in 1945.

Frequently asked questions