Exploring Austria's Linguistic Diversity: Languages Spoken Across The Country

Austria is a multilingual country with around 250 languages spoken across the nation. German is the official language and lingua franca, with Austrian German being the variety of German used. However, there are several minority languages spoken in Austria, including Turkish, Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian, and Arabic. The largest minority language is Serbo-Croatian, spoken by more than 4% of the population.

German is the official language of Austria

Alemannic, or Swiss German, is spoken by about 300,000 people, mostly in Vorarlberg. Vorarlberg uses a High Alemannic, the same dialect group as that spoken in Northern Switzerland (outside Basel) and parts of southern Alsace, France. The north-eastern parts of Austria (with the capital Vienna) speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects and the southern parts speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects.

In the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is also considered an official language. In some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as an official language. About 250 languages are spoken throughout Austria, though many have very small populations of speakers. Only about 20 languages (apart from official languages) have more than 10,000 speakers. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by more than 4% of the population. Turkish is the second-largest minority language, spoken by 2.3% of the population. In 2021, there were an estimated 18,800 Romanian speakers in Austria.

English is widely taught in schools and is widely spoken, especially by the younger generations. This is partly due to the fact that many university programmes in Austria are now offered in English to attract international students.

Slovene is an official language in Carinthia

German is the official language of Austria, and the lingua franca. However, about 250 languages are spoken throughout the country, though many have very small populations of speakers. Only about 20 languages (apart from official languages) have more than 10,000 speakers. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by more than 4% of the population. Turkish is the second largest minority language, spoken by 2.3% of the population. Other widely spoken minority languages include Balkan languages such as Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian, as well as Arabic and English.

In the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language. The Carinthian Slovene population fell from 66,463 in 1910 to 12,554 in 2001, and Slovene organisations estimate the total number in all of Austria to be 50,000, most of whom live in Carinthia. Slovene has a long history in Carinthia, and during the Middle Ages was spoken by the peasantry and in most towns, together with German or Italian. It also had some role in the courtly life of the nobility, as evidenced by the survival of certain ritual formulas in Slovene, such as the ritual installation of the Dukes of Carinthia. After the Carinthian Plebiscite of 1920, a policy of Germanisation took place in the Slovene-speaking areas of southern Carinthia which remained under Austrian administration. However, bilingual education is provided for the first three years of primary school, and secondary school pupils can register for Slovene language instruction for four lessons a week.

Hungarian and Croatian are official languages in Burgenland

German is the official language of Austria and is spoken by most Austrians. However, there are several other languages spoken in the country, with around 250 languages spoken throughout Austria. In the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is also considered an official language.

In some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as an official language. Burgenland is a state in eastern Austria that borders Hungary and Slovakia. The recognition of Hungarian and Croatian as official languages in Burgenland reflects the cultural and linguistic diversity of the region.

The recognition of these languages as official languages ensures that they are used in administration, education, and other official domains. This promotes the preservation and promotion of these languages within the region. It also ensures that the speakers of these languages have equal access to information and services provided by the state.

The recognition of Hungarian and Croatian as official languages in Burgenland is a testament to Austria's commitment to cultural and linguistic diversity. It ensures that the rights of minority language speakers are respected and protected. This promotes social cohesion and inclusivity within the region.

In addition to Hungarian and Croatian, other minority languages spoken in Austria include Serbo-Croatian, Turkish, Romanian, and several Balkan languages such as Serbian, Bosnian, and Croatian. English is also widely taught in schools and spoken, especially by the younger generations, due to the increasing internationalisation of university programmes.

Turkish is the second-largest minority language

Turkish is one of around 20 languages in Austria with more than 10,000 speakers. The only minority language with more speakers is Serbo-Croatian, which is spoken by more than 4% of the population.

Austria has become an increasingly multilingual country, with many foreign languages spoken due to migration. English is widely taught in schools and is especially common among younger generations. Other languages spoken in Austria include Arabic, Bosnian and Serbian.

The official language of Austria is German, which is the de facto first language. Most Austrians are able to speak German, apart from some rural seniors. It is the language used in the media, in schools and for formal announcements. The variety of German spoken in Austria is Austrian German, which is partially influenced by Austro-Bavarian.

English is widely taught in schools

About 250 languages are spoken throughout Austria, though many have very small populations of speakers. German is the official language and lingua franca, and is the de facto first language. It is the language used in media, schools, and formal announcements. However, English is widely taught in schools and is widely spoken, especially by the younger generations. Many university programmes in Austria are now offered in English to attract international students.

In the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is also considered an official language. In some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as an official language. In addition, several minority languages are spoken in Austria. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by more than 4% of the population. Turkish is the second largest minority language, spoken by 2.3% of the population. There are also around 18,800 Romanian speakers in Austria.

Balkan languages, such as Serbian, Bosnian and Croatian, are also widely spoken in Austria, due to immigration from the former Yugoslavia. These languages are commonly used within immigrant communities and some schools offer language courses to children from these families. Romani is spoken by the Roma community, mainly in urban areas of Austria. Romani includes several dialects according to the different Roma tribes present in Austria. Although the language is not widely taught, it is protected by minority laws and is an essential part of the cultural identity of the Roma in Austria.

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