German And Austrian: Different Or Same?

Austrian German and German are mutually intelligible, meaning speakers of one language can generally understand speakers of the other. However, there are some key differences between the two languages. Austrian German has a distinct accent and vocabulary, and there are grammatical differences, such as in verb placement and the endings of feminine nouns. Austrian German is also influenced by Austro-Bavarian, a German dialect spoken in Austria, and has a smaller vocabulary than Standard German.

Accent and vocabulary differences

Austrian German and Standard German (or German German) are two variations of the same language, with speakers of one generally able to understand the other without much difficulty. However, there are some differences in accent and vocabulary that are worth noting.

Accent Differences

Austrian German has a distinct accent, with a slower pace and a more musical intonation than Standard German. Vowels tend to be pronounced more openly, and the letter "r" is often pronounced with a rolling "r" sound, influenced by Bavarian dialects. In contrast, Standard German has a more neutral and standardized pronunciation, which is prevalent in Germany. The northern regions of Germany have a sharper, clearer pronunciation, while the southern regions, including Bavaria, sound very similar to Austrian German.

Vocabulary Differences

Austrian German and Standard German share most of their vocabulary, but there are some notable differences. For example, "Semmel" in Austrian German refers to a bread roll, while in Standard German, it is "Brötchen". Similarly, "Straßenbahn" in Standard German means "tram" or "streetcar", but in Austrian German, it is "Bim". Other vocabulary differences include "Marillen" (apricots) in Austrian German vs. "Aprikosen" in Standard German, and "Sackerl" (small bag) in Austrian German vs. "Tüte" in Standard German.

In addition to these specific word differences, Austrian German also has a preference for using certain modal particle words that might not be as prevalent in Standard German.

Grammatical Differences

While both varieties of German follow the same basic rules for word order, there is a tendency for more variations in sentence structure in Austrian German, especially in casual conversation, which might be influenced by regional dialects. Standard German follows a relatively strict word order, particularly in formal writing.

There are also some differences in the use of verb tenses. For example, in Austrian German, the past tense is sometimes formed with "sein" ("to be") instead of "haben" ("to have"), as would be the case in Standard German. Additionally, the use of the genitive case (possessive case) is less common in Austrian German, with speakers often opting for other grammatical constructions.

Differences in pronunciation rules

Austrian German and Standard German (or "Hochdeutsch") have some notable differences in pronunciation, despite sharing a common linguistic heritage.

One of the most noticeable distinctions is the accent. Austrian German has a distinct accent characterised by a slower pace and a more melodic, musical intonation. In contrast, Standard German has a more neutral and standardised pronunciation.

Vowels are pronounced differently in Austrian German, tending to be more open. The letter "r" is often pronounced with a rolling "r" sound, influenced by Bavarian dialects. In contrast, Standard German does not have this rolling "r" sound.

Another difference in pronunciation is the use of Schwa sounds at the end of words. In Austrian German, the word "Rede" would be pronounced without the Schwa sound, as "/rede/". In contrast, in Standard German, it would often be pronounced with the Schwa sound, as "/redə/".

The pronunciation of certain consonants also differs between the two varieties. For example, the voiceless "s" consonant is generally not used in Austrian German. Words like "Salat" and "Saft" would be pronounced with a voiceless "s", as "ssalat" and "Ssaft". In contrast, in Standard German, the "s" would be pronounced as a voiced "s", similar to the "s" sound in English.

Additionally, Austrian German and Standard German differ in their pronunciation of certain word endings and the beginning of words. For example, the ending "-ig" is pronounced differently in Austrian German as "-ik", whereas in Standard German, "-ich" is preferred, but "-ik" is also considered valid. At the beginning of words, Austrian German tends to use "K" instead of "Sch" for certain words. For instance, "Chemie" is pronounced with a "K" sound in Austrian German but with a "Sch" sound in Standard German.

The pronunciation of plosive sounds also varies between Austrian German and Standard German. Austrian German uses unaspirated plosive sounds, which can lead to some words sounding similar. For example, the word pairs "tanken/danken" or "backen/packen" are often pronounced identically by Austrians, with a sound in between the clear "t/p" or "d/b" sounds. However, this does not apply to "k/g", which are always clearly pronounced.

In summary, while Austrian German and Standard German share a common linguistic heritage, they differ in several pronunciation rules, including vowel sounds, the use of Schwa, the pronunciation of certain consonants, word endings, and the use of aspirated and unaspirated plosive sounds. These differences can make Austrian German sound quite distinct from Standard German, even though they are mutually intelligible.

Differences in grammar rules

Austrian German and Standard German have several grammatical differences. Firstly, in Austrian German, there is a preference for using the past tense with "haben" (to have) instead of "sein" (to be) for verbs that typically use "sein" in Standard German to form the past tense. For example, in Austrian German, verbs such as "sitzen" (to sit) and "liegen" (to lie) take "haben" in the past tense, whereas, in Standard German, they take "sein".

Secondly, the use of the genitive case (possessive case) is less common in Austrian German, with speakers often opting for other grammatical constructions, such as the dative case or prepositional phrases.

Thirdly, in Austrian German, the preterite (simple past) is very rarely used, especially in spoken language, with the exception of some modal verbs.

Additionally, in Austria, as in German-speaking parts of Switzerland and southern Germany, verbs that express a state or movement tend to use "sein" as the auxiliary verb in the perfect, whereas, in Germany, the words "stehen" (to stand) and "gestehen" (to confess) are identical in the present perfect: "habe gestanden". The Austrian variant avoids this potential ambiguity with "bin gestanden" coming from "stehen", and "habe gestanden" coming from "gestehen".

Finally, there are differences in prepositions between Austrian German and Standard German. For example, in Germany, you would buy something "für 5 Euro" (for 5 euros), whereas, in Austria, you would buy something "um 5 Euro".

Differences in verb conjugation

Austrian German and Standard German are remarkably similar, as they both stem from the West Germanic family of languages. However, there are some differences in verb conjugation between the two.

In Austrian German, the past tense is built like the Standard German past tense. The only difference is that in the past perfect, some verbs use a different auxiliary verb. While certain verbs are always used with "sein" ("to be") and others are always used with "haben" ("to have"), in Austrian German, this might differ from standard German. For example, in Austrian German, one might say "ich bin gesessen" ("I am sat") instead of the German standard "ich habe gesessen" ("I have sat").

Another example is how in Austrian German, some verbs relating to motion (such as "walking" or "lying down") take "sein" ("to be") instead of "haben" ("to have"). This results in phrases like "ich bin geschlafen" ("I slept") instead of "ich habe geschlafen" ("I have slept").

In German, the first-person and third-person plural and second-person plural-polite forms are identical for all verbs in every tense. "Sie" in the second person is used to address one or more people of high status.

In German, verbs are conjugated depending on their use. As in English, they are modified depending on the person and number of the subject of a sentence, as well as depending on the tense and mood. German verbs have forms for a range of subjects, indicating number and social status.

In summary, while Austrian German and Standard German share many similarities, there are some differences in verb conjugation, particularly in the use of auxiliary verbs in the past perfect tense and the choice of "sein" or "haben" for certain types of verbs.

Differences in common phrases

Austrian German and Standard German have several differences in common phrases and vocabulary. While the two variations are mutually intelligible, certain phrases and words are unique to Austrian German. Here are some examples:

• Greetings: Austrians often use "Grüß Gott" and "Servus" as greetings, which are less common in Standard German. "Hallo" and "Guten Tag" are becoming more prevalent in Austria but are more typical in Standard German.
• Food: Austrians have distinct names for certain foods that differ from Standard German. For instance, "Paradeiser" (tomato), "Marille" (apricot), "Erdapfel" (potato), "Palatschinken" (pancakes), and "Topfen" (curd cheese).
• Phrases: Austrians use some unique phrases that differ from Standard German. For example, "das geht sich aus" means "it's possible" or "it works out." "Sackerl" refers to a small bag or sack, often used for shopping or dog waste. "Jausen" or "jausenbrot" means a snack or a small cold dinner.
• Pronunciation: Austrian German pronunciation tends to be softer, with certain vowels sounding different from Standard German. There is also a melodic lilt to the way Austrians speak.
• Dialects: Austrian German is heavily influenced by various dialects, including Austro-Bavarian, which varies across different regions of Austria. These dialects can impact vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.
• Grammar: Austrian German grammar can differ from Standard German, especially in verb conjugation and the use of personal pronouns. For example, Austrians often use "i" for "ich" (I) and "mia" for "wir" (we).
• Diminutives: In Standard German, the diminutive suffix "-chen" is common. In Austrian German, the suffix "-erl" is frequently used, such as in "Mäderl" (little girl) or "Häuserl" (little house).

Frequently asked questions