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As neighbouring countries in the German-speaking world, Germany and Austria have a lot in common. They share a rich history, culture, and even sausage recipes. However, they also differ in some interesting ways. The biggest differences lie in their languages, Austrian German and Standard German, which are mutually intelligible but have distinct accents, pronunciations, and vocabulary. Austrian German has also been influenced by Austro-Bavarian, a German dialect spoken in Austria, and uses different grammatical rules. Beyond language, Austrian and German cuisine also differ in how they refer to dishes and drinks, despite sharing many similar foods.
How similar are Austrian and German?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Language | Austrian German and Standard German are remarkably similar as they both stem from the West Germanic family of languages. Austrians and Germans can understand each other, and most of the vocabulary is shared. However, there are differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and spelling. |
| Culture | Austria and Germany have long held close cultural, political, economic, and familial ties. They share traditions, a similar way of life, and similar styles of cuisine. However, they each have distinct and interesting cultures. |
| History | Austria and Germany share a rich history. Austria was a part of Germany for most of its history and only established itself as a sovereign nation after World War I. |
| Geography | As neighboring countries, Germany and Austria share a long border. The landscape on both sides of the border is quite similar. |
Language differences
Austrian German and Standard German are remarkably similar, as they both stem from the West Germanic family of languages. In essence, they are two variations of German. However, there are some notable differences between the two languages.
Austrian German and Standard German are mutually intelligible, meaning speakers of the two languages can understand each other. However, there are some key differences in vocabulary, accent, and pronunciation. Austrian German uses different pronunciation rules, resulting in a distinct Austrian accent. The prosody (the rhythmic and stress patterns in the spoken language) of Austrian German is notably different from that of Standard German.
There are also differences in the diminutive form of words. In Standard German, the most common diminutive suffix is "chen." For example, "Hund" (dog) becomes "Hündchen" (little dog). In Austrian German, the common diminutive suffix is "erl". For example, "Mäderl" (little girl) or "Häuserl" (little house).
The vocabulary used in Austrian German and Standard German also differs. For example, in Austrian German, you would say "Erdapfel" for "potato," while in Standard German, you would say "Kartoffel." Similarly, the greeting "hallo" or "guten tag" in Standard German becomes "grüß gott" or "servus" in Austrian German.
It is worth noting that there are regional dialects within both Germany and Austria that can vary significantly. For instance, the Viennese dialect may be more challenging for German speakers to understand. Additionally, Austrians in the rural west of the Austrian Alps may sound very different from those in Vienna.
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Accents and pronunciation
Austrian German and Standard German are quite similar, and speakers of the two languages can understand each other. However, there are some notable differences in accents and pronunciation. Austrian German uses different pronunciation rules, resulting in a distinctly Austrian accent. The geographic borderlines between the different accents (isoglosses) coincide strongly with the borders of the states and also with the border with Bavaria, with Bavarians having a markedly different rhythm of speech despite the linguistic similarities.
The Austro-Bavarian dialect of Vienna, Viennese, is seen by many in Germany as quintessentially Austrian. However, the Viennese dialect is more impenetrable to German speakers. The people of Graz, the capital of Styria, speak another dialect that is more easily understood by people from other parts of Austria than other Styrian dialects. Speakers from different provinces of Austria can be easily distinguished from each other by their particular accents, those of Carinthia, Styria, Vienna, Upper Austria, and the Tyrol being very characteristic.
The differences in accents and dialects between German and Austrian German are so varied that they fill books. Some sources state that Austrian German is generally much softer and more melodic than Standard German.
There are also differences in vocabulary between Austrian German and Standard German. For example, Austrians use "grüß gott" or "servus" to greet someone, while Germans use "hallo" or "guten tag". Austrians say "mahlzeit" before eating, while Germans say "guten appetit". Austrians say "erdäpfel" for potatoes, while Germans say "kartoffeln".
There are also some grammatical differences between Austrian German and Standard German. For example, the perfect tense in Austrian German sometimes uses "sein" ("to be"), instead of "haben" ("to have") in Standard German. The diminutive form is also different, with Austrians adding -el and -erl to the end of words instead of -chen or -lein.
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Vocabulary
Austrian German and Standard German are remarkably similar, as they both stem from the West Germanic family of languages. However, there are some noticeable differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.
Austrian German has some unique expressions, pronunciations, and grammatical differences compared to Standard German. For example, in Austrian German, the past perfect tense sometimes uses "sein" ("to be"), while in Standard German, it commonly uses "haben" ("to have"). In addition, Austrian German uses different diminutive suffixes, such as "-erl" instead of the Standard German "-chen" or "-lein".
Regional dialects within both Germany and Austria can also create variations in vocabulary. For instance, the Viennese dialect differs significantly from Standard German and can be challenging for German speakers to understand. Similarly, the rural west of the Austrian Alps has a distinct dialect that varies from the Viennese dialect.
In terms of vocabulary, Austrian German has some unique words and phrases. For example, Austrians may greet someone with "grüß gott" or "servus" instead of the Standard German "hallo" or "guten tag." Austrians also have their own word for "potato," "Erdapfel," while many Germans use the word "Kartoffel."
Austrian German also showcases a variety of unique sayings and a polite and respectful tone. Austrians tend to be more roundabout in their speech, in contrast to the more direct and pragmatic style of most German speakers.
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Dialects
Austrian German and Standard German are remarkably similar, as they both stem from the West Germanic family of languages. In essence, they are two variations of German. Austrian German is the official language of Austria, used in education, media, and administrative communications. It is mutually intelligible with Standard German, which means speakers of these languages can understand each other. However, there are some noticeable differences in accent, vocabulary, and expressions.
Austrian German has its roots in the mid-18th century, when Empress Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II introduced compulsory schooling in 1774, and several reforms of administration in their multilingual Habsburg Empire. The written standard at the time was Oberdeutsche Schreibsprache (Upper German written language), which was influenced by the Bavarian and Alemannic dialects of Austria. Austrian German has also been influenced by the Southern German dialects.
In terms of vocabulary, there are some key differences between Austrian German and Standard German. For example, Austrians use "Erdapfel" for "potato", while Germans use "Kartoffel". Austrians also have unique ways of saying "hello" and ordering a coffee. There are also differences in the past perfect (Perfekt) tense, where some verbs use a different auxiliary verb. While certain verbs are used with "sein" (to be) and others with "haben" (to have) in Standard German, Austrian German may use a different auxiliary verb.
There are several dialects of Austrian German, including the Austro-Bavarian dialect of Vienna, known as Viennese, which is considered quintessentially Austrian. The people of Graz, the capital of Styria, speak another dialect that is more easily understood by people from other parts of Austria than other Styrian dialects. The Styrian dialect has about a million speakers, including Arnold Schwarzenegger. Other dialects include the Alemannic dialects spoken in the west of Austria, which lie along the border with Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
In summary, Austrian German and Standard German are generally mutually intelligible, but there are regional dialects and specific terms unique to each country.
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Cuisine
Austrian and German cuisines share similarities, but there are also differences. Both countries have their own unique dishes, and Austrian food is also influenced by its neighbouring countries in Central Europe, particularly Hungary, Bavaria, Bohemia, and Northern Italy. Austrian cuisine has many similarities with South German food, but it differs from the food in North Germany.
Austrian cuisine has its roots in the Austro-Hungarian period and shares many similarities with German cuisine, such as sausages, schnitzel, and strudel. However, Austrian food also has many regional specialties similar to those found in Bavaria and other Alpine countries. For example, Austrian cuisine includes specialities like Krautfleisch, a ragout made from pork and sauerkraut, and Krautspatzle, a dish of small noodles (spatzle) and cabbage. Austrian butchers also use unique cuts of meat, such as Tafelspitz (beef) and Fledermaus (pork).
Austria is also known for its pastries, such as the famous Sachertorte, a chocolate cake with apricot jam filling, and the Linzer Torte, a caramel-flavoured cake. Other favourites include the Dobostorte, Esterhazy Torte, and Punschkrapfen, a classical Austrian pastry filled with cake crumbs, nougat chocolate, and apricot jam soaked in rum. Kaiserschmarr'n, a rich, fluffy, sweet thick pancake made with raisins and other fruits, is another well-known Austrian dish.
In terms of drinks, Austrians love wine like Italians and enjoy aperol and winespritzers. Austrians also have a strong coffee culture, which is said to have originated in the country after the Battle of Vienna in 1683 when bags of coffee beans were left behind by the retreating Turkish army.
Austrian food also has some unique terms due to the differences between Austrian German and Standard German. For example, "Kaiserschmarrn" in Austrian German refers to a torn pancake with raisins, while in Standard German, it means "Caesar's Nonsense" or "Emperor's Mess".
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Frequently asked questions
Austrian German and Standard German are remarkably similar, as they both stem from the West Germanic family of languages. They are mutually intelligible, which means speakers of these languages can understand each other. However, there are differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and spelling.
Austrian German uses different pronunciation rules, resulting in a distinctly Austrian accent. Vowels are often prolonged, which gives Austrian German its distinctive sing-song quality. The letter "r" is trilled, similar to the sound of a rolling "r" in Spanish. Austrian German also has a smaller vocabulary than Standard German and employs different words to convey the same meaning.
Germany and Austria have long held close cultural, political, economic, and familial ties. They share traditions and a similar way of life, cuisine, and landscape. However, they each have distinct and interesting cultures, histories, and traditions.
Some examples of differences in vocabulary between Austrian German and Standard German include how to say "hello", what you call a "tomato", and what you say when ordering a "coffee". In Austria, you would typically say "grüß gott" or "servus" to greet someone, whereas in Germany, you would say "hallo" or "guten tag".
