Lyla Lindsey
Austria is a country with a rich linguistic history, and several languages are spoken there. The official language of Austria is German, with approximately 97% to 98% of people in the country speaking it, and a little over 93% calling it their mother tongue. However, there are also several other languages spoken in Austria, including minority languages such as Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, Turkish, and various dialects of German.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official language | German, Austrian German, Austrian High German |
| Lingua franca | German |
| De facto first language | German |
| Main dialect outside Vorarlberg | Austro-Bavarian |
| Main dialect in Vorarlberg | Alemannic |
| Minority languages | Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, Sign language, Turkish, French, English, Aramaic, Serbo-Croatian, Jenisch, Windisch |
| Percentage of people who speak English | 40% |
| Percentage of people who speak French | 7% |
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What You'll Learn
The official language of Austria is Austrian German
Austrian German is a written and spoken high language, a standard variety of the German language. It differs from German in vocabulary and grammar, and Austrian German includes numerous words and idioms borrowed from Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Yiddish, and South Slavic. Austrian German is also influenced by the various dialects spoken in Austria, which are largely influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
Bavarian dialects are widely spoken in Austria, with approximately 7 million Austrians speaking a central or southern Bavarian dialect or a colloquial language influenced by these dialects. The Alemannic dialect is spoken by about 300,000 people, mostly in Vorarlberg, which uses a High Alemannic dialect, the same dialect group as that spoken in Northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace in France. The main native language of Austria outside Vorarlberg is Austro-Bavarian, with approximately 8.3 million speakers in Austria. The northeastern parts of Austria speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern parts speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects.
In addition to Austrian German and the various dialects, 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. 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, followed by Turkish, which is spoken by 2.3%.
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Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect
The official language of Austria is German, which acts as a lingua franca and de facto first language. Nearly all Austrians learn and speak German, with approximately 97-98% of the population speaking it and just over 93% calling it their mother tongue. It is used in official publications and announcements, the media, and public schools. However, Austrian German differs from German as it is spoken in Germany and Switzerland, with variations in vocabulary and grammar. Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect, which is the main dialect outside Vorarlberg. Vorarlberg uses a High Alemannic dialect, which is also spoken in northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace in France.
Austrian German, therefore, has a complex relationship with Austro-Bavarian. Austro-Bavarian is considered a group of Upper German varieties and is commonly spoken in the German state of Bavaria, most of Austria, and South Tyrol in Italy. It is the largest of all German dialects, with approximately 12 million speakers. While Bavarian is often considered a dialect of German, some classify it as a separate language. The International Organization for Standardization has assigned it a unique language code, and UNESCO lists it in the Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger.
The distinction between Bavarian and Standard German is notable, making it challenging for native Bavarian speakers to adopt standard German pronunciation. Educated Bavarians and Austrians can typically read, write, and understand standard German, but they may have limited opportunities to speak it, particularly in rural areas. Bavarian has had a significant influence on Standard High German, and it is widely spoken in Bavaria and Austria.
Historically, Austria has been a multi-ethnic state with speakers of numerous languages, including German. It was once part of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations and later became a member of the German Confederation. When the Austrian Empire was established, it did not standardize Austro-Bavarian, possibly due to its political weakness and the need to avoid angering non-Upper German-speaking citizens in the north. Instead, it adopted a Middle German standard for compulsory education in 1774 under Maria Theresia.
The dialects in Austria follow a continuum, with no clear borders separating them. The Bavarian dialect or its variants are spoken in all Austrian states except Vorarlberg. The Viennese dialect is particularly influential, blending central and southern Bavarian with high language features. Thus, Austrian German, as the official language, serves as a "'roofing language,' allowing communication between speakers of various dialects within the country.
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Austria has many spoken languages and dialects
Austria has several spoken languages and dialects. German is the country's official language and the lingua franca, with approximately 97% of Austrians speaking it and 93% calling it their mother tongue. Austrian German, the variety of German used in Austria, is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. Austrian German differs from German as spoken in Germany in terms of vocabulary and grammar. Austrian High German is the standard dialect in Austria and is mostly identical to the Federal High German used in Germany. Austrian German is also influenced by languages such as Czech, Hungarian, Italian, Yiddish, and South Slavic.
Alemannic, or Swiss German, is spoken by about 300,000 people in Vorarlberg, where it is the main dialect. Vorarlberg uses a High Alemannic dialect, which is also spoken in northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace in France. The Alemannic dialects are also spoken in other countries such as Switzerland, France, Italy, and Liechtenstein. Austro-Bavarian is the main dialect outside of Vorarlberg and is spoken by about 8.3 million people in Austria. The northeastern parts of Austria, including Vienna, speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern parts speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects.
In addition to German and its dialects, several minority languages are spoken in Austria, some of which have official status. 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 as an official language. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language in Austria, spoken by more than 4% of the population. Turkish is the second-largest minority language, spoken by 2.3% of the population. Immigration has further diversified the languages spoken in Austria, with guest workers from Turkey and Yugoslavia bringing their languages and cultures to the country.
Austria's dialects follow a dialect continuum, meaning that state borders do not represent natural language borders. The German dialects spoken in Austria share characteristics with dialects in the German states of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, as well as Eastern Switzerland. The individual federal states in Austria have regional dialects influenced by how people in the state capital speak. The most prominent of these is the Viennese dialect, which influences many other dialects and mixes Central and Southern Austro-Bavarian with Viennese and high language features.
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Austria has several minority languages
German is the official language of Austria and is spoken by 97-98% of the population. However, Austria has a rich linguistic landscape, with several minority languages spoken across the country. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. In addition, due to immigration, languages such as Turkish and various Slavic languages are also spoken in Austria.
Hungarian
Hungarian is recognised as a minority language in Austria and is spoken by around 1,000 people in Burgenland. Historically, it held an important position in the country due to the historical ties between the two nations.
Slovenian
Slovenian, or Slovene, is an official language in the Austrian state of Carinthia and is considered a minority language. It is also spoken in the state of Styria, with a significant community in Carinthia. According to the 2001 census, Slovene is used by 12,686 Austrians as their vernacular, and it is reported that 0.3% of Austrians can speak Slovene. Carinthian Slovenes are recognised as a minority and have enjoyed special rights and affirmative action following the Austrian State Treaty of 1955.
Burgenland-Croatian
Also known as Chakavian, Burgenland Croatian is an official language in the state of Burgenland, where it is spoken by 2.5% of Austrians. Burgenland Croats are recognised as a minority group and have been granted special rights, including the use of Croatian in education, judiciary, and public administration. The Burgenland variant of Croatian is based on the Chakavian dialect and includes phrases and words borrowed from German and Hungarian.
Czech, Slovak, and Romany
These languages are also recognised as minority languages in Austria, although the number of speakers is not as significant as the previously mentioned languages.
In addition to these recognised minority languages, Austria is home to speakers of various other languages due to its diverse population. Turkish, for example, is the second-largest minority language, spoken by 2.3% of the population. Serbo-Croatian is the largest minority language, with over 4% of Austrians speaking it. Furthermore, approximately 40% of Austrians speak English, and French is spoken by around 7% of the population.
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English is the second most spoken language in Austria
The official language of Austria is Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. Austrian German is distinct from German as it is spoken in Germany and Switzerland, with differences in vocabulary and grammar. While German is the official language, Austria is home to numerous dialects and minority languages.
Austrian German is the predominant language, with approximately 97-98% of people in Austria speaking it, and just over 93% calling it their mother tongue. It is the language used in the media, schools, and formal announcements. However, Austrian German is not uniformly spoken across the country, and several dialects exist, influenced by the dialects spoken in neighbouring German states and Switzerland.
Alemannic, or Swiss German, is spoken by about 300,000 people in Vorarlberg, where it is the main dialect. The Alemannic dialect in Vorarlberg is part of the High Alemannic dialect group, also spoken in northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace, France. The Alemannic dialect is quite different from standard German and is challenging for most German speakers to understand.
The main native language of Austria outside Vorarlberg is Austro-Bavarian, with approximately 8.3 million speakers. The northeastern parts of Austria, including Vienna, speak Central Austro-Bavarian dialects, while the southern parts speak Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects.
In addition to German and its dialects, several minority languages are spoken in Austria, some of which have official status. These include Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. In Carinthia, Slovene is recognised as an official language alongside German, and in some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian have equal status with German.
Among the minority languages, Serbo-Croatian is the most widely spoken, with over 4% of the population speaking it. Turkish is the second-largest minority language, spoken by 2.3% of the population. Immigration from Turkey and former Yugoslavia in the 1960s and 1970s contributed to the presence of these languages in Austria.
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Frequently asked questions
The official language of Austria is Austrian German, which is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect. It is the first language of 93% of the population and is used in the media, schools, and formal announcements.
There are several minority languages spoken in Austria, including Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, Romany, and sign language. Turkish is the second-largest minority language, with 2.3% of the population speaking it.
The main dialect in Austria is Austro-Bavarian, which is spoken by approximately 8.3 million people. In the state of Vorarlberg, the Alemannic dialect is spoken, which is very different from standard German. The capital, Vienna, speaks a Central Austro-Bavarian dialect.
