Omari Gates
Austria is a landlocked Central European country with a population of almost nine million people. German is the country's official language, with approximately 98% of Austrians speaking it as a de facto first language. However, Austria is also home to several other languages, including minority languages such as Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. Austro-Bavarian, an unofficial language with no written orthography, is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg and is considered the de facto national language, with around seven million speakers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official language | German |
| De facto first language | German |
| Lingua franca | German |
| Main dialect outside Vorarlberg | Austro-Bavarian |
| Main dialect in Vorarlberg | Alemannic |
| Minority languages | Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, sign language |
| Largest minority language | Serbo-Croatian |
| Second-largest minority language | Turkish |
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What You'll Learn
German is the official language
Austrian German is the predominant language in the country, with almost all of Austria's population, or 98%, speaking it. It is used in the media, schools, and formal announcements. The language is also considered a lingua franca, as it is the de facto first language for most Austrians other than some rural seniors.
While German is the only official language of Austria, several minority languages are recognised and hold official status in certain districts. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. In the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language, and in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German.
In addition to these minority languages, Austria is home to two significant, though unofficial, languages: Austro-Bavarian and Alemannic. Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg and is considered the de facto national language of Austria, with about seven million speakers in the country. It is made up of several regional dialects that differ notably from north to south. Alemannic, on the other hand, is the main dialect in Vorarlberg and is spoken by about 300,000 people. It is similar to Swiss German and is very difficult for most German speakers to understand.
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Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect
The language originated with the Bavarii, a Germanic tribe with a duchy that spread from modern-day Bavaria to parts of Austria in the early Middle Ages. Over time, the Bavarii and their language spread down the Danube and up into the Alps, which is how Austro-Bavarian gained its current geographic spread.
Austrian German, the country's official language, has been influenced by Austro-Bavarian. The two languages are mutually intelligible, although there are some differences in vocabulary and accent, particularly in Vienna, that can prove puzzling to those who speak Standard German. German and Austro-Bavarian have influenced each other over the centuries, and while most Austrians speak both tongues, translation services are still required for formal documentation.
In addition to German and Austro-Bavarian, several other languages are spoken in Austria. Alemannic, or Swiss German, is the main dialect in the western state of Vorarlberg and is spoken by around 300,000 people. The variety of Alemannic spoken in Vorarlberg is High Alemannic, the same dialect group spoken in northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace, France. There are also several minority languages spoken in Austria, some of which have official status. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language.
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Alemannic is another popular dialect
Austria's national language is German, which is the official language and the lingua franca. However, Alemannic is another popular dialect in the country.
Alemannic is spoken by around 300,000 people in Austria, mostly in Vorarlberg, where it is the main dialect. It is also spoken in Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein, France, Italy, the US, and Venezuela. The Alemannic dialect is descended from the Alemanni, a group of Germanic tribes from the banks of the Upper Rhine.
Alemannic is considered one of the unofficial languages of Austria. It is a dialect of Swiss German and is very difficult for most German speakers to understand. Vorarlberg uses a High Alemannic dialect, which is the same dialect group spoken in northern Switzerland (outside Basel) and parts of southern Alsace, France.
Alemannic is not the only unofficial language in Austria. Austro-Bavarian, which is considered the de facto national language, is also an unofficial language. It is the main dialect outside of Vorarlberg and is spoken by around 7 million people in Austria. Austro-Bavarian has no written orthography, but it covers a variety of dialects that differ as one travels from the north to the south of Austria.
In addition to these languages, there are several minority languages spoken in Austria, some of which have official status. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language.
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Minority languages include Hungarian and Croatian
Austria's official language is German, with almost 98% of Austrians speaking it. However, the German spoken in Austria is not exactly the same as Standard German and has been influenced by Austro-Bavarian. Austrian German is considered a separate dialect with some differences in vocabulary and pronunciation.
Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg and is considered Austria's de facto national language. It is spoken by about 7 million people in Austria and is widespread throughout the country, except in Vorarlberg and some areas of Tyrol's Reutte District.
Alemannic, the main dialect in Vorarlberg, is spoken by around 300,000 people. It is similar to Swiss German and is very difficult for most German speakers to understand.
In addition to German and the two major dialects, several minority languages are spoken in Austria, some of which have official status. According to the European Commission, Hungary, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language are recognized minority languages in Austria.
In the mixed-language districts of Carinthia, Slovene is considered an official language, and in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status to German as an official language. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by more than 4% of the population. Hungarian has historically been an important language in Austria due to the two countries' shared history as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, it is spoken by around 1,000 people in Burgenland.
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Austrian German is distinct from Standard German
German is the official language of Austria and constitutes a lingua franca and de facto first language. However, Austrian German (Österreichisches Deutsch) is distinct from Standard German in several ways. Firstly, Austrian German has a distinct accent characterised by a slower pace and a more musical intonation. The vowels are 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 standardised pronunciation.
Secondly, Austrian German exhibits some grammatical differences compared to Standard German. For example, in Austrian German, the perfect tense sometimes uses "sein" ("to be") instead of "haben" ("to have") in the past tense. Additionally, the use of the genitive case (possessive case) is less common in Austrian German, with speakers opting for other grammatical constructions.
Thirdly, there are key vocabulary differences between Austrian German and Standard German. For instance, "Semmel" in Austrian German refers to a bread roll, while in Standard German, it is "Brötchen." Similarly, the word for "tomato" and the phrase for "ordering a coffee" differ between the two variations. These vocabulary differences often reflect Austria's historical and cultural ties to neighbouring regions, including Bavaria and Hungary.
Finally, while Austrian German and Standard German share a common linguistic heritage, they have distinct cultural contexts. Austrian German has been influenced by Austro-Bavarian, the main dialect outside Vorarlberg, and Alemannic, the main dialect in Vorarlberg. Standard German, on the other hand, is the standardised variation of German spoken in Germany. Despite these differences, Austrian German and Standard German are mutually intelligible, and speakers of one language can generally understand the other.
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Frequently asked questions
The official language of Austria is German.
Austro-Bavarian is the de facto national language of Austria and is spoken by approximately 7 million people. It is a group of Upper German languages that are spoken across the country, except in Vorarlberg and some areas of Tyrol's Reutte District.
Austria's recognised minority languages include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language.
No, English does not have official status in Austria. However, Austrians generally have a high level of spoken English.
Alemannic, a dialect of Swiss German, is spoken by about 300,000 people in Vorarlberg and some parts of Tyrol's Reutte District.
