Austrian German: Simpler Than Its German Counterpart?

Austrian German and German German are mutually intelligible, but there are some notable differences between the two. Austrian German, or Österreichisches Deutsch, is a variety of German spoken in Austria and South Tyrol. It is the official language of Austria and is used in education, media, and administrative communications. While Austrian German and Standard German share many similarities, there are some key differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. For example, Austrian German uses different pronunciation rules, resulting in a distinct accent, and has a smaller vocabulary than Standard German. Additionally, Austrian German grammar rules differ from those of Standard German in some respects, such as verb placement and the use of feminine nouns.

Vocabulary differences

Austrian German and Standard German have many vocabulary differences, despite being remarkably similar. While speakers of both languages can generally understand each other, there are some words that might be unfamiliar or have different meanings. Here are some examples:

• "Pfannkuchen" (pancakes) in Standard German are called "Palatschinken" in Austrian German.
• "Marillen" (apricots) in Austrian German are "Aprikosen" in Standard German.
• "Sackerl" (small bag) in Austrian German is "Tüte" in Standard German.
• "Plätzchen" (Christmas cookies) in Standard German.
• "Marillenmarmelade" (Apricot jam) in Austrian German.
• "Erdapfel" (potato) in Austrian German is "Kartoffel" in Standard German.
• "Paradeiser" (tomato) in Austrian German is "Tomate" in Standard German.
• "Jänner" (January) in Austrian German is "Januar" in Standard German.
• "Rauchfang" (chimney) in Austrian German is "Schornstein" in Standard German.
• "Stiege" (stairs) in Austrian German is "Treppen" in Standard German.
• "Guten Tag" (hello) in Standard German is "Grüß Gott" or "Servus" in Austrian German.

These vocabulary differences are influenced by regional dialects and the historical development of the two languages, including the legacy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the influence of the Bavarian dialect.

Dialects and pronunciation

Austrian German and Standard German are mutually intelligible, with most of their differences lying in accent, vocabulary, and syntax. Austrian German is influenced by Austro-Bavarian dialects, which vary across different regions of Austria. These dialects impact vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar in spoken Austrian German.

Austrian German pronunciation features softer consonants and more rounded and full vowel sounds. It has a melodic lilt, with a distinct sing-song quality. The letter 'r' is trilled, similar to Spanish. The letter 'g' is often pronounced with a /k/ sound, as in the word 'gemacht' (made), which is pronounced /ke-MAKT/ in Austrian German. The vowel system in Austrian German is more similar to other Central German varieties than to Standard German.

Standard German pronunciation, on the other hand, is characterised by sharper consonants and a set of standardised vowel sounds. High German pronunciation is used as the basis for teaching German as a second language internationally.

The geographic borderlines between the different accents in Austria strongly coincide with the borders of the states and with the border with Bavaria. Bavarians have a markedly different rhythm of speech despite the linguistic similarities.

The Viennese dialect is more impenetrable to German speakers, and the rural west of the Austrian Alps also has a distinct sound. The people of Graz, the capital of Styria, speak a dialect that is more easily understood by people from other parts of Austria than other Styrian dialects.

Several Austrian dialects have been influenced by contact with non-Germanic linguistic groups. For example, the dialect of Carinthia has been influenced by Slovene, and the dialect of Vienna has been influenced by immigration from the Czech Republic. The German dialects of South Tyrol have been influenced by local Romance languages, with many loanwords from Italian and Ladin.

In terms of dialects, Austrian German can be divided into three general groups: Northern, Central, and Southern. Northern Dialects, spoken in regions including Vienna, are considered more similar to German than the other Austrian dialects. Central Dialects, spoken in regions including Salzburg and Linz, are somewhat different from Standard German but not as different as the Southern Dialects. Southern Dialects, spoken in regions including Graz and Innsbruck, are considered the most different from German and can be challenging for speakers of other German dialects to understand.

Grammar and syntax

Austrian German and Standard German have several differences in grammar and syntax. While both are mutually intelligible, there are some notable differences.

Austrian German uses different pronunciation rules, resulting in a distinctly softer and more melodic Austrian accent. The consonants are softer, and the vowels are more rounded and full. The letter 'r' is trilled, similar to the sound of a rolling 'r' in Spanish. The letter 'g' is often pronounced with a /k/ sound, as in the word 'gemacht' (made), which is pronounced /ke-MAKT/ in Austrian German.

In terms of grammar, Austrian German has a smaller vocabulary than Standard German, and certain words are used differently. For example, the word for "tomato" in Austrian German is "Paradeiser," while in Standard German, it is "Tomate." Additionally, verb placement can differ between the two varieties, and feminine nouns often take on different endings. For instance, the verb "haben" (to have) is conjugated as "hat" in Austrian German but remains "haben" in Standard German.

Another difference lies in the use of the genitive case. Austrian German speakers prefer constructions with the dative case or prepositional phrases instead of the genitive case, which is more commonly used in Standard German, especially in formal and written language.

The perfect tense in Austrian German sometimes uses "sein" ("to be") instead of "haben" ("to have"), as in "ich bin gesessen" ("I am sat") instead of the Standard German "ich habe gesessen" ("I have sat").

The diminutive form also differs between the two varieties. Austrians add -el and -erl to the end of words, while in Standard German, the most common diminutive suffix is -chen, as in "Hündchen" (little dog).

Overall, while there are some grammatical and syntactical differences between Austrian German and Standard German, they are generally mutually intelligible, and speakers of one variety can usually understand the other without much difficulty.

Formal vs colloquial language

Austrian German and Standard German are two variations of German, stemming from the West Germanic family of languages. While they are remarkably similar, there are some differences in formal and colloquial language that are worth noting.

Formal Language

Austrian German and Standard German both follow the "Hochdeutsch" (High German) rules, which are widely taught internationally. However, there are some differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and syntax that can cause confusion or misunderstanding between the two varieties.

For example, in Austrian German, the genitive case is less commonly used, and there is a preference for constructions with the dative case or prepositional phrases. Austrian German grammar rules also differ in verb placement and the endings of feminine nouns. In terms of vocabulary, Austrian German includes unique terms influenced by regional dialects, such as "Paradeiser" for tomato and "Erdapfel" for potato.

Colloquial Language

In colloquial or informal situations, Austrians and Germans use different greetings. In Austria, people often greet each other with "Grüß Gott," while in Germany, "Guten Tag" is more common. Austrians may also use "Servus" as a friendly greeting for both "hello" and "goodbye." Austrians tend to have a distinct accent when speaking German, which can be challenging for Germans from other regions to understand.

Additionally, Austrians use different words for everyday objects and food items. For example, a small round bread roll is called a "Semmel" in Austria and a "Brötchen" in Germany. Austrians say "Klo" for bathroom or toilet, while Germans typically say "Toilette." Austrians also have their own phrases, such as "leiwand," which means "cool" or "great."

In summary, while Austrian German and Standard German share many similarities, there are notable differences in formal and colloquial language. These differences can impact communication and understanding between Austrians and Germans, especially when it comes to regional dialects and colloquial expressions.

Mutual intelligibility

Austrian German and Standard German are mutually intelligible, meaning that speakers of each language can generally understand each other. However, there are some differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and syntax that can cause minor confusion or misunderstandings.

Austrian German, or "Österreichisches Deutsch," is the variety of the German language spoken in Austria and South Tyrol. It is the official language of Austria, with around 9 million native speakers. On the other hand, Standard German, or "Hochdeutsch," is the standardized form of the German language used in formal settings across German-speaking countries and taught to learners worldwide.

One key difference between Austrian German and Standard German is their vocabulary. Austrian German has its own set of words and phrases that are not used or may have different meanings in Standard German. For example, Austrians say "Paradeiser" for tomato, "Marille" for apricot, and "Erdapfel" for potato. Standard German, on the other hand, uses "Tomate," "Aprikose," and "Kartoffel" for these foods, respectively.

Pronunciation also differs between the two varieties. Austrian German features softer consonants and a more melodic tone, with distinct vowel sounds that can differ from Standard German. The letter 'r' is trilled, similar to Spanish, and the letter 'g' is often pronounced as a /k/ sound, as in the word 'gemacht' (made), which is pronounced /ke-MAKT/ in Austrian German.

There are also some grammatical differences between Austrian German and Standard German. For instance, Austrian German sometimes uses "sein" ("to be") instead of "haben" ("to have") in the perfect tense. Additionally, verb placement can vary, and feminine nouns may have different endings.

Despite these differences, Austrian German and Standard German are mutually intelligible, and most Austrians can easily understand Standard German when spoken slowly and clearly. However, it is worth noting that there are regional dialects within Austria that can be quite different from each other and from Standard German, such as the Viennese dialect, which is more challenging for German speakers to understand.

Frequently asked questions