Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of almost nine million people. Its official language is German, which is spoken by about 97% to 98% of the population. However, there are several other languages spoken in Austria, including minority languages such as Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian, and Turkish. English is also widely spoken, with about three-quarters of Austrians able to converse in it. The variety of languages spoken in Austria is influenced by its history, culture, and geographic position.
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What You'll Learn
German is the official language
Austria is home to around seven million speakers of Austro-Bavarian, a group of Upper German languages spoken across the country. The main dialect of Austria outside Vorarlberg is Austro-Bavarian. A Middle Bavarian subdialect is spoken in Ober- and Niederösterreich, as well as in Vienna. A Southern Bavarian subdialect is spoken in Tirol, Kärnten, and parts of Steiermark. In Vorarlberg and parts of western Tirol, an Alemannic (Swiss) dialect prevails. Alemannic is considered a significant unofficial language of Austria, spoken by around 300,000 people, largely in the western state of Vorarlberg and the Reutte District of Tyrol.
In addition to German, several minority languages are spoken in Austria, some of which have official status. Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian are recognized as official languages of autonomous population groups in some regions. According to the European Commission, recognized minority languages in Austria include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. In Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language, and in some districts of Burgenland, Croatian and Hungarian have equal status to German. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by more than 4% of the population. Turkish is the second-largest minority language, with 2.3% of the population speaking it. Serbian is the third most spoken minority language, with 2.2% of the population speaking it.
English is widely spoken in Austria, especially in the large cities and tourist areas. Approximately 40% of Austrians speak English, and it is taught as the first foreign language in most schools. French is also spoken by around 7% of the population.
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Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect
Austria's official language is German, which is the first language of almost all Austrians. However, the country is home to a unique mixture of languages, with about 250 languages spoken throughout the country. Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect, with around seven million speakers. It is a group of Upper German languages spoken across the country, except in the federal state of Vorarlberg and some areas of Tyrol's Reutte District.
Alemannic, a Swiss German dialect, is the main dialect in Vorarlberg and some parts of Tyrol. It is also spoken in Northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace in France. It is very difficult for most German speakers to understand. About 300,000 people speak Alemannic in Austria.
Austro-Bavarian is the most common dialect outside Vorarlberg. The variety of German used in Austria, Austrian German, is partially influenced by Austro-Bavarian. There are several subdialects of Austro-Bavarian, including Middle Bavarian and Southern Bavarian. Middle Bavarian is spoken in Ober- and Niederösterreich, as well as in Vienna. Southern Bavarian is spoken in Tirol, Kärnten, and parts of Steiermark.
In addition to the dialects, there are several minority languages spoken in Austria, some of which have official status. These include Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian, Serbian, Turkish, and Czech. The recognised minority languages are Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. In Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language, and in some districts of Burgenland, Croatian and Hungarian have equal status to German as an official language.
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Minority languages include Hungarian, Croatian, Turkish and Serbian
Austria's official language is German, which is the first language of nearly all Austrians. However, the country is home to several minority languages, including Hungarian, Croatian, Turkish, and Serbian.
Hungarian is recognised as an official language in some regions of Austria, particularly in the western state of Vorarlberg, which borders Hungary. In 1956, around 170,000-180,000 Hungarians fled to Austria following an uprising in Hungary, and many of them settled in the country permanently. Today, Hungarian is spoken by about 1,000 people in Burgenland, Austria.
Croatian is also an official language in some parts of Austria, specifically in the state of Burgenland, where it holds equal status to German. This variety of Croatian is known as Burgenland Croatian and is spoken by 2.5% of Austrians. Croats in Burgenland are recognised as a minority group and have been granted special rights under the Austrian State Treaty of 1955.
Turkish is the most widely spoken minority language in Austria, with between 350,000 and 500,000 people of Turkish origin currently living in the country. Turkish guest workers were encouraged to come to Austria in the 1960s and 1970s, leading to the flourishing of the Turkish language in the country. Today, Turkish is widely spoken in Vienna and other regions such as Lower Austria, Upper Austria, and Tyrol.
Serbian is the second most spoken minority language in Austria, with approximately 2.2% of the population speaking it. Like Turkish, the Serbian language also became more prevalent in the country due to a 1964 government initiative that recruited Serbian guest workers. Today, there are over 122,000 Serbian citizens in Austria, and the true number of people of Serbian origin could be as high as 500,000.
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English is widely spoken
Austria's official language is German, specifically Austrian German, which differs from the German spoken in Germany. Nearly all Austrians, except for some rural seniors, speak German, with 97-98% of the population fluent in the language and 93% calling it their mother tongue. The language is used in the media, schools, and formal announcements, and Austrian German has been influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
Austria is home to a diverse mix of languages due to its history and geography. Several minority languages are spoken across the country, some of which have official status. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. In mixed-language districts like Carinthia, Slovene is also considered an official language, and in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German.
The diverse linguistic landscape of Austria is further enriched by immigration. In the 1960s and 1970s, "guest workers" from Turkey and Yugoslavia brought their languages and cultures to the country, with Turkish now being the most widely spoken minority language. Serbian is the second most spoken minority language, with approximately 2.2-2.3% of the population speaking it.
While English is widely spoken in Austria, particularly in urban areas, German remains the predominant language. Visitors who speak German may still encounter challenges due to regional dialects and accents, as Austrian German has distinct variations from Standard German.
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French is the third most spoken language
Austria is a landlocked Central European country with a population of almost nine million people. The country's official language is German, with Austrian German being the predominant dialect. Nearly all Austrians speak German, with 97-98% of the population fluent in the language, and it serves as the lingua franca of the country. German is used in the media, schools, and formal announcements. However, Austrian German differs from the German spoken in Germany due to the influence of the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
In addition to German, Austria is home to a diverse range of languages and dialects. Approximately seven million Austrians speak a Central or Southern Bavarian dialect or a colloquial language influenced by these dialects. The main native language outside of Vorarlberg, a western state, is Austro-Bavarian. Vorarlberg is the only province where Austro-Bavarian is not the primary dialect; instead, they speak Alemannic, which is also a dialect of Swiss German. About 300,000 people speak Alemannic, and it is challenging for most German speakers to understand.
Austria also recognizes several minority languages, some of which have official status in specific regions. These include Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. Turkish is the most widely spoken minority language, with a significant number of speakers in Vienna and other regions. Serbian is the second most common minority language, with approximately 2.2% to 2.3% of the population speaking it.
While there is no single language called Austrian, the country's linguistic landscape is rich and varied, with numerous dialects and minority languages coexisting alongside the official language, German. Among the many languages spoken in Austria, French is the third most common. Approximately 7% of Austrians speak French, making it more widely spoken than several minority languages and dialects in the country. This percentage is also higher than the average for European countries, showcasing the language's presence in Austria.
The presence of French as the third most spoken language in Austria is notable and can be attributed to various factors. One reason may be the country's emphasis on language education. English is taught as the first foreign language in most schools, and many Austrians are proficient in English. This focus on language learning may extend to French as a second or third language for some Austrians, contributing to its relatively high number of speakers in the country. Additionally, Austria's geographic position and historical context have likely played a role in the adoption of French. As a Central European country, Austria has been influenced by neighboring countries where French is widely spoken, such as France and Switzerland. Furthermore, during the Cold War, Austria served as a haven for refugees and emigrants from Eastern Europe, some of whom may have spoken French as their native language or learned it during their time in Austria.
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Frequently asked questions
The most common language in Austria is German, which is the country's official language. Austrian German differs from German as it is spoken in Germany and is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
Around 97% to 98% of people in Austria speak German, with a little over 93% calling it their mother tongue.
Austria is home to many other spoken languages and dialects. About seven million people speak Austro-Bavarian, a group of Upper German languages spoken across the country, except in Vorarlberg and some areas of Tyrol's Reutte District. In those locations, residents use an Alemannic dialect. Other commonly spoken languages include English, French, Turkish, Serbian, Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian.
The official language of Vorarlberg is Alemannic, which is also a dialect of Swiss German.
