Leslie Massey
Austria is a landlocked Central European country with a population of almost nine million people. German is the official language of Austria and is spoken by almost all of its population. However, Austrians mostly identify themselves as ethnic Austrians rather than Germans. The variety of German used in Austria, Austrian German, is partially influenced by Austro-Bavarian, which is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg. Austria is also home to several minority languages, including Turkish, Slovenian, Hungarian, and Croatian.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official language | German |
| De facto first language | German |
| Lingua franca | German |
| Language used in media, schools, and formal announcements | German |
| Variety of German used | Austrian German |
| Number of Alemannic speakers | 300,000 |
| Main dialect in Vorarlberg | Alemannic |
| Main dialect outside Vorarlberg | Austro-Bavarian |
| Number of Austro-Bavarian speakers in Austria | 7-8.3 million |
| Total number of Austro-Bavarian speakers in Europe | 13 million |
| Minority languages | Turkish, Serbian, Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian, Romanian, Czech, Slovak, Roma, and English |
| Percentage of Austrian population speaking Turkish | 2.3% |
| Percentage of Austrian population speaking Serbian | 2.2% |
| Number of Romanian speakers in Austria | 18,800 |
| Number of Hungarians in Burgenland | 1,000 |
| Number of Slovene speakers in Austria | 12,686 |
| Percentage of Austrian population that can speak English | 75% |
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What You'll Learn
German is the official language
Austrian German is a relic of the country's long history of German influence. Austria was once part of Germany, and its official language is a standalone phenomenon. Almost all of Austria's population, 98%, speaks German, making it the lingua franca. However, the majority of Austrians identify as Austrian rather than German, with 91.1% of the population identifying as ethnically Austrian.
Austro-Bavarian is a group of Upper German dialects and is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg. It is spoken by over seven million people in Austria and has no official orthography. The name covers a variety of dialects, which differ as one travels from the north to the south of Austria.
Alemannic, or Swiss German, is the main dialect in Vorarlberg and is spoken by about 300,000 people. It is a High Alemannic dialect, the same group spoken in northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace, France. It is very difficult for standard German speakers to understand.
In addition to German and its dialects, Austria is home to several minority languages, including Turkish, Slovenian, Hungarian, Croatian, Serbian, and Czech. English is also widely spoken, especially in the big cities, as it is taught as the first foreign language in most schools.
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Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect
German is the official language of Austria and is spoken by almost all Austrians. However, the main dialect spoken in the country is Austro-Bavarian, which has about 8.3 million speakers in Austria alone and 13 million speakers worldwide. Austro-Bavarian differs greatly from Standard German, and German speakers from other regions may struggle to understand it. The dialect 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 language spread down the Danube and up into the Alps, giving it the geographic reach it has today.
Austro-Bavarian has distinct branches in the northern and southern parts of Austria. In the north-eastern parts of the country, including the capital Vienna, people speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects. Meanwhile, in the southern parts, Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects are used. The name "Austro-Bavarian" covers a variety of dialects, which differ notably as one travels from the north to the south of the country.
Austro-Bavarian has no official orthography, and it can be challenging to understand for those who only know Standard German. However, there have been literary efforts, especially in poems, to depict the sound of the pronunciation in the spelling. Some phrases and words are only used in specific regions of Austria and Bavaria and are rarely used in Standard German. For example, "Griaß God" ("greet God" or "may God greet you") and "Servus/Servas" ("at your service") are greeting phrases. Other phrases, like "Pfiat di / Pfiat eich (euch)" ("watch over you [God]" or "may God watch over you"), are used to say "goodbye".
In addition to German and Austro-Bavarian, other languages are spoken in Austria, including several minority tongues. English is widely spoken, especially in the large cities, with three-quarters of Austrians able to converse in English due to the country's emphasis on learning the language in schools. Alemannic, or Swiss German, is spoken by about 300,000 people in Vorarlberg and parts of western Tyrol, with cultural and dialectal affinities to German Swiss variants.
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Alemannic is the Vorarlberg dialect
The official language of Austria is German, which is also the de facto first language. However, the country is home to a unique mixture of languages, including several minority languages and dialects. Alemannic, a group of Upper German dialects, is the main dialect in the western state of Vorarlberg.
Alemannic is spoken by about 300,000 people in Austria, mostly in Vorarlberg. It is also spoken in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, parts of Baden-Württemberg in Germany, and Alsace in France. Vorarlberg uses a High Alemannic dialect, which is also spoken in northern Switzerland (outside Basel) and parts of southern Alsace, France. This dialect is very difficult for German speakers to understand.
Alemannic is derived from the Alemanni, a tribal alliance that dates back to at least 213 AD. The name "Alemannic" means "all men" and is taken from the ancient Germanic tribal confederation. The Alemannic dialects are considered to be a dialect continuum, with variations including Swabian, Low Alemannic, and High Alemannic.
Alemannic was historically a written language, with the oldest known texts dating back to the sixth century. However, from the 17th century onwards, it was gradually displaced by Standard German, and no binding orthographical standard for writing modern Alemannic emerged. Today, Alemannic is primarily a spoken dialect, with local variations in spelling and pronunciation.
In addition to the various languages and dialects spoken in Austria, it is worth noting that English is also widely understood, with three-quarters of Austrians able to converse in English. This is due to the country's strong emphasis on learning English in school.
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Minority languages include Turkish, Croatian, and Slovenian
German is the national official language of Austria and acts as a lingua franca and de facto first language. However, Austria is home to several minority languages, including Turkish, Croatian, and Slovenian.
Turkish
Turkish Austrians, also referred to as Austrian Turks, are people of Turkish ethnicity living in Austria and form the largest ethnic minority group in the country. The majority of Austrian Turks descend from the Republic of Turkey, but there has also been significant Turkish migration from other post-Ottoman countries, including the Balkans (especially Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Romania), the island of Cyprus, and more recently, Iraq and Syria. Turkish people were recruited to Austria as "guest workers" for the construction and export industries following an agreement with the Turkish government in 1964.
Croatian
The Croatian language is spoken by Burgenland Croats, who are ethnic Croats in the Austrian state of Burgenland, alongside Croats in neighboring Hungary and Slovakia. The language combines the Chakavian, Shtokavian, and Kajkavian dialects. The Burgenland variant of Croatian is based on the Chakavian dialect, in contrast to the standard Croatian language, which is primarily based on the more widespread Shtokavian dialect. The language also includes phrases no longer used in standard Croatian, as well as certain phrases and words borrowed from German and Hungarian. Croatian is an official language in Austrian Burgenland and is spoken by 2.5% of Austrians. Burgenland Croats gained minority status in the Austrian Treaty of Independence of 1955, and their language is used in education, the judiciary, and public administration.
Slovenian
Slovene is an official language in Austrian Carinthia. As of the 2001 census, Slovene is used by 12,686 Austrians as vernacular, and it is reported that Slovene can be spoken by 0.3% of Austrians. Carinthian Slovenes are recognized as a minority and have enjoyed special rights and affirmative action following the Austrian State Treaty of 1955.
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English is widely spoken in cities
German is the official language of Austria and is spoken by almost all Austrians. However, the dialect of German spoken in Austria is different from standard German and is called Austrian German or Austrian-Bavarian. This dialect differs greatly from standard German and can be difficult for German speakers from other regions to understand.
In addition to German and English, several other languages are spoken in Austria, including minority languages such as Turkish, Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian. These languages are spoken by various minority groups in the country and have official status in some regions.
Austria is also home to several regional dialects, including Alemannic, which is spoken in the western state of Vorarlberg and has influences from German Swiss dialects. Another dialect is Central Austro-Bavarian, which is spoken in the northeastern parts of Austria, including the capital Vienna. The southern parts of Austria speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects.
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Frequently asked questions
German is the official language of Austria and is spoken by almost all of its population. The dialect of German spoken in Austria is called Austrian German or Austro-Bavarian.
Austria is home to several minority languages, including Turkish, Croatian, Slovenian, Serbian, Hungarian, and Czech.
Yes, English is widely spoken in Austria, especially in the large cities and popular tourist areas. About three-quarters of Austrians can converse in English, as it is taught as the first foreign language in most schools.
