Lyla Lindsey
Austria is a landlocked Central European country with a population of almost nine million people. German is the country's official language, and it is spoken by 98% of the population. However, there are several other languages spoken in Austria, including various dialects of German, such as Austro-Bavarian, and minority languages like Hungarian, Slovenian, Burgenland-Croatian, Czech, Slovak, and Roma. English is also widely spoken in Austria, with around three-quarters of the population able to converse in it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Official language | German |
| Other languages spoken | Austro-Bavarian, English, Alemannic, Bosnian, Croatian, Czech, Hungarian, Polish, Romani, Italian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovene, Turkish, Yiddish |
| % of population that speaks the official language | 91.1% |
| % of population that speaks Turkish | 2.3% |
| % of population that speaks Burgenland Croatian | 2.5% |
| % of population that speaks Serbian | 2.2% |
| % of population that speaks Slovene | 0.3% |
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What You'll Learn
German, the official language of Austria
German has been the official language of Austria since 1920, as outlined in Article 8 of the country's constitution. Austrian German, a variety of Standard High German, is the most widely spoken language in the country, with 88.6% of the population speaking a German dialect as their native language. This includes 2.5% German-born citizens who reside in Austria. Austrian German is used in the media, in schools, and for official announcements and government administrative work. It is also the language of education in Austrian schools and universities, and proficiency in the language is essential for students in public schools.
Austrian German is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect, which is the primary native language outside of Vorarlberg. Austro-Bavarian has no official orthography, and there are various literary efforts to depict the pronunciation in the spelling. For example, the greeting phrase "Griaß God" ("may God greet you") and "Servus/Servas" ("at your service") are rarely used in Standard German. Other phrases, like "Pfiat di / Pfiat eich (euch)" ("may God watch over you"), are dialectal and mean "goodbye".
Alemannic, a group of Upper German dialects, is another language spoken in Austria, with around 300,000 speakers, mainly in Vorarlberg, the westernmost federal state. It is also spoken in Northern Switzerland and parts of southern Alsace, France. However, it is difficult for most German speakers to understand.
While German is the predominant language, Austria is also home to various minority languages, including Turkish, Serbian, Croatian, Hungarian, and Slovene. Turkish is the largest minority language, spoken by 2.3% of the population, followed by Serbian (2.2%) and Croatian (2%). In the federal state of Carinthia, Slovene is recognised as an official language and is spoken by 0.3% of Austrians. In some districts of Burgenland, Hungarian and Croatian are considered equal to German as official languages.
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Austro-Bavarian, the primary native language
Austro-Bavarian, also known as Bavarian, is the primary native language of Austria. It is a West Germanic language, and one of the "Upper German" varieties, so-called because they are spoken in mountainous regions, including Switzerland, Austria, and southern Germany. Austro-Bavarian is distinct from Standard German, but the two have influenced each other. The vast majority of Austro-Bavarian speakers also speak Standard German.
The language is believed to have originated with the Germanic tribe known as the Bavarii, who established a tribal duchy that covered much of what is today Bavaria and some of Austria. Over time, the tribe migrated down the Danube and into the Alps, to the regions where Austro-Bavarian dialects are spoken today. In German, the language is referred to as "Bairisch", while the state of Bavaria is called "Bayerisch". This distinction is reflected in the spelling of the state name, "Bayern", which includes a "y" due to the influence of King Ludwig I, who favoured all things Hellenic.
There are several dialects of Austro-Bavarian. The Central Austro-Bavarian dialects are spoken in the northern parts of Austria, while the Southern Austro-Bavarian dialects are spoken in the south. Austro-Bavarian is also used to refer to a broader dialect group, which includes the Austro-Bavarian dialect discussed here, as well as the Cimbrian, Hutterite German, and Mócheno dialects of Germany.
Austro-Bavarian is primarily a spoken language, and there is no standard way of writing it. However, there are some written materials in the language, such as grammars, poetry, and even a translation of the Bible. The language is also used in songs.
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Minority languages: Croatian, Hungarian, Serbian
The Austrian Federal Constitution calls for the respect and promotion of ethnic groups resident in Austria. A special set of rights for Austrian Croats, Czechs, Hungarians, Romani, Slovaks, and Slovenes was established under the Ethnic Group Act in 1976. The rights of Croats and Slovenes are also set forth in the Austrian State Treaty.
Croatian
A group of Chakavian dialects known as Burgenland Croatian is spoken by the Burgenland Croats in the Austrian state of Burgenland, where it has official recognition as a minority language. Burgenland Croatian combines features from the Chakavian, Shtokavian, and Kajkavian dialects. However, unlike standard Croatian, which is mostly based on the widespread Shtokavian dialect, Burgenland Croatian is based on the Chakavian dialect. Burgenland Croatian includes phrases no longer used in standard Croatian, as well as some phrases and words from German and Hungarian. Names are often written according to Hungarian orthography due to the Magyarisation policies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Hungarian
According to the 1910 census in the Kingdom of Hungary, 54.4% of the inhabitants of Hungary spoke Hungarian as their native language. This included the Jewish ethnic group, who were predominantly Hungarian-speaking.
Serbian
Serbia has 15 official minority languages, including Albanian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Bunjevac, Croatian, Czech, German, Hungarian, Macedonian, Romani, Romanian, Ruthenian, Slovak, Ukrainian, and Vlach.
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English, widely spoken and taught in schools
Austria is a German-speaking country, with Austrian German being the official language. However, English is also widely spoken in Austria, with around 70-75% of the population speaking it to some degree. This makes Austria one of the most proficient non-native English-speaking countries in the world. English is taught as a foreign language in schools, usually from primary school age, and has been a standard part of the curriculum since World War II. As a result, nearly everyone under the age of 60 or 70 in Austria can speak at least basic English, especially in larger cities like Vienna and other tourist destinations.
English is also important for international students studying in Austria, as it is widely understood by the local population and is used in academia and business settings. While German is the main language of instruction at Austrian universities, there are numerous English-taught Bachelor's, Master's, MBA, and PhD programmes offered by institutions such as the Vienna University of Economics and Business and the University of Vienna's Faculty of Business, Economics and Statistics.
In addition to English, Austria has a diverse linguistic landscape due to its changing borders and history of immigration. Languages like Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, Croatian, Slovenian, and Turkish are spoken in the country, and there are several legally protected linguistic minorities, including Burgenland Croat, Burgenland Hungary, and Carinthian Slovenes. In some regions, these ethnic groups are entitled to native language schooling and official communication with authorities.
While English is widely spoken in Austria, it is important to note that it is not their native language. Austrians are generally happy to converse in English with foreign visitors, especially in popular tourist areas, as long as they are polite and respectful. However, it is beneficial to learn at least some basic German phrases and vocabulary to navigate daily life outside of academia and business settings and to show respect for the host country's culture.
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Alemannic, a group of Upper German dialects
Alemannic is descended from the Alemanni, a collection of Germanic tribes from the banks of the Upper Rhine. The name "Alemannic" derives from the Alemanni, which means "all men." The Alemannic dialects are thought to have developed in the southwestern part of the Germanic speech area, and they differ considerably in sound system and grammar from standard High German.
Alemannic comprises a dialect continuum, with the Highest Alemannic spoken in the mountainous south and Swabian in the relatively flat north. The dialects become more similar to Standard German the further north one goes. In Germany and other European countries, the abstand and ausbau language framework is used to decide what is a language and what is a dialect. While some organisations describe Alemannic as one of several independent languages, others consider it a dialect of German.
Alemannic has a long written history, with the oldest known texts dating to the sixth century in the form of Elder Futhark inscriptions. In the Old High German period, the first coherent texts in Alemannic were recorded in the St. Gall Abbey, including the eighth-century Paternoster. In the 16th century, Alemannic was displaced by Standard German, which emerged from Early Modern High German. As a result, no binding orthographical standard for writing modern Alemannic emerged.
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Frequently asked questions
German is the official language of Austria. Austrian German is a version of German that is influenced by the Austro-Bavarian dialect.
English is the second most spoken language in the country, with about 40% of the population speaking it. French is the third most spoken language, with about 7% of the population speaking it. Other widely spoken languages include Turkish, Croatian, Slovenian, and Hungarian.
Apart from Austrian German, the other two major unofficial national languages are Alemannic and Austro-Bavarian. Alemannic is mostly spoken in the western state of Vorarlberg and has Swiss German influences. Austro-Bavarian is a collection of dialects native to the region, with distinct branches spoken in the northern and southern parts of the country.
Yes, there are several minority languages in Austria, some of which have official status. These include Burgenland Croatian, Slovene, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and Roma.
