Leslie Massey
Austria's official language is German, which is the first language of nearly all Austrians. However, Austrian German differs from German as it is spoken in Germany and Switzerland. This is due to Austria's history, as it was once part of the Frankish Empire and later the Kingdom of Bavaria. Austria also has several minority languages, including Turkish, Croatian, and Slovenian, and various dialects such as Austro-Bavarian and Alemannic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official Language | German |
| De facto First Language | German |
| Percentage of German Speakers | 97% to 98% |
| Percentage of German as a Mother Tongue | 93% |
| Other Languages | Austro-Bavarian, Alemannic, Hungarian, Croatian, Turkish, Romanian, Czech, Slovak, Romani, Slovenian, Italian, French, Spanish, Aramaic, Serbo-Croatian |
| English Speakers | 40% |
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What You'll Learn
German is the official language of Austria
The history of Austria is closely tied to that of Germany, and the two countries were once part of the same empire. This shared history explains why German became the official language of Austria. After the First World War, Austria began the process of establishing itself as an independent nation, and German was reconfirmed as the official language in the 1920 Austrian Constitution. It was further reaffirmed in 1955 when Austria gained independence.
In addition to German, several other languages are spoken in Austria. These include various dialects, such as Alemannic, which is spoken in the western state of Vorarlberg and has Swiss influences, and Austro-Bavarian, which has distinct branches in the northern and southern parts of the country. Austro-Bavarian is the most widely spoken dialect in Austria, with about seven to eight million speakers. Other dialects include Carinthian, Viennese, and Tyrolean.
Austria is also home to several minority languages, including Turkish, Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian. Some of these languages have official status in certain regions of the country. For example, in the state of Burgenland, Hungarian, Croatian, and Romani have equal status to German as official languages. In the Carinthia region, Slovene is recognized as an official language, and in the state of Styria, Slovenian dialects are used.
While English is widely spoken in Austria, especially among the younger generations, it does not have official language status.
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Austrian German is different from German
The official language of Austria is Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. Austrian German is mutually intelligible with Standard German, meaning speakers of the two languages can understand each other. However, there are differences in vocabulary, accent, and grammar between Austrian German and Standard German.
Austrian German has a softer and more melodic accent than Standard German. For example, certain vowels tend to be pronounced and/or emphasized differently in Austrian German. The vocabulary also differs in Austrian German, including how to greet someone, refer to food and beverages, and order a coffee. For instance, in Austrian German, you would say "grüß gott" or "servus" to greet someone, whereas in Standard German, you would say "hallo" or "guten tag". Austrian German also has a different diminutive form, with the suffixes "-el" and "-erl" added to the end of words instead of "-chen" or "-lein" in Standard German.
There are also grammatical differences between Austrian German and Standard German. In the past perfect tense, some verbs in Austrian German use a different auxiliary verb than in Standard German. While certain verbs are always used with "sein" (to be) and others with "haben" (to have) in Standard German, in Austrian German, this might differ. Additionally, in Austrian German, all nouns become neuter when a diminutive suffix is added, regardless of their original gender.
The dialects spoken in Austria also vary across regions, with the Viennese dialect being more challenging to understand for German speakers and the rural west of the Austrian Alps sounding different from the Viennese. Furthermore, Austria recognizes several minority languages, including Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Romany, reflecting the country's diverse cultural and historical influences.
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Austria has many spoken languages and dialects
Austria has a diverse range of spoken languages and dialects. While German is the official language of the country, Austrian German differs from German as it is spoken in Germany. Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect and has a softer pronunciation and distinct grammatical differences. It is the de facto first language of the nation, with 97-98% of people in Austria speaking it and over 93% calling it their mother tongue.
Austria's dialects follow a continuum, with German dialects in the country sharing characteristics with those in the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, as well as Eastern Switzerland. The main dialect outside Vorarlberg is Austro-Bavarian, with about 7-8 million speakers. It has distinct branches in the northern and southern parts of the country. Vorarlberg, in the west, speaks Alemannic, a Swiss German dialect, with about 300,000 speakers. Other dialects include Carinthian in Carinthia, Viennese in the capital, and Tyrolean in Tyrol.
In addition to German, Austria has several minority languages. These include Turkish, the second-largest minority language spoken by 2.3% of the population, and Serbo-Croatian, the largest minority language spoken by over 4%. Other minority languages with official status include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Romany. While not officially recognised, other minority languages include Italian, French, Spanish, and Aramaic, spoken by small groups.
The linguistic diversity in Austria is partly due to its history. Austria was once part of the multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian Empire, and its borders have changed over time. Immigration has also played a role, with guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia bringing their languages and cultures. English is widely spoken, with about 40% of the population speaking it, and French is spoken by around 7%.
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Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg
The official language of Austria is Austrian German, which differs from German as spoken in Germany. This is because Austrian German is partially influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg, and it is also a collection of dialects native to the region, with distinct branches spoken in the northern and southern parts of the country. More than 8 million people in Austria speak Austro-Bavarian, making it the de facto main language of Austria.
Austro-Bavarian is a group of Upper German varieties spoken in the southeast of the German language area, including the German state of Bavaria, most of Austria, and South Tyrol in Italy. It is also spoken in Switzerland, which is in the same mountainous region as Austria and Southern Germany. Austro-Bavarian is also used to refer to the dialect group that includes the Austro-Bavarian dialect, as well as the Cimbrian, Hutterite German, and Mócheno dialects of Germany. The Austro-Bavarian language has its origins in the Germanic tribe known as the Bavarii, who established a tribal duchy that covered much of what is today Bavaria and some of Austria in the early Middle Ages. The name Bavarian is derived from the name of the people who settled in Bavaria along with their tribal dialect.
Bavarian is commonly considered to be a dialect of German, but some sources classify it as a separate language. The International Organization for Standardization has assigned a unique ISO 639-3 language code (bar) to Bavarian, and UNESCO lists it in the Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. However, the classification of Bavarian as an individual language has been criticized. The difference between Bavarian and Standard German is larger than the difference between Danish and some varieties of Norwegian or between Czech and Slovak. Despite this, educated Bavarians and Austrians can almost always read, write, and understand Standard German, although they may have little opportunity to speak it, especially in rural areas.
Austrians and Bavarians speak German as their official language and lingua franca. German is the de facto first language of Austria, with roughly 97-98% of people in the country speaking it and a little over 93% calling it their mother tongue. Official publications, announcements, media, and schools use German. Austrian German exists as a written and spoken high language, a standard variety of the German language, and it is different in both vocabulary and grammar from German as spoken and written in Germany and Switzerland.
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Minority languages include Turkish, Italian, French and Spanish
The official language of Austria is German, which is spoken by about 97% of the population. However, there are several other languages spoken in the country, including various dialects and minority languages.
Austria is home to a number of minority languages, including Turkish, Italian, French, and Spanish. Turkish is the second-largest minority language in Austria, with 2.3% of the population speaking it. This is due to the immigration of guest workers from Turkey in the 1960s and 1970s, who brought their language and culture to the country. Turkish is not recognised as a protected minority language and is therefore not taught in schools.
Italian is also spoken in Austria, though it is not clear how many speakers there are. The Italian language has influenced Austrian German, which includes words and idioms borrowed from Italian.
French is another minority language spoken in Austria, with around 7% of Austrians speaking it. This may be due to the influence of neighbouring France, as well as the historical use of French as a language of prestige and diplomacy.
Spanish is also spoken in Austria, though it is not clear how many speakers there are. The presence of Spanish may be due to immigration or the increasing influence of Spanish-speaking cultures globally.
In addition to these languages, Austria has a number of other recognised minority languages, including Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Romani. These languages have official status in certain regions and are protected under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The Austrian Federal Constitution calls for the respect and promotion of these ethnic groups and their languages.
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Frequently asked questions
The official language of Austria is German, which is the first language of 97-98% of the population.
Yes, the Austrian German dialect is widely spoken and differs from German as it is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. English is the second most spoken language in the country, with around 40% of the population speaking it.
Yes, there are several minority languages spoken in Austria, including Turkish, Croatian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Roma, and Slovenian.
The main dialects spoken in Austria include Austro-Bavarian, which is the main dialect outside of Vorarlberg, and Alemannic, which is the main dialect in Vorarlberg and is spoken by about 300,000 people.
