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Germany is renowned for its linguistic diversity, which reflects centuries of regional and cultural evolution. While most learners of the Indo-European language family will become familiar with Standardhochdeutsch (standard high German), the official dialect used in government, media, and schools, the language itself is far from uniform.
Understanding the many variations in German dialects can unlock a deeper appreciation for Germany’s rich history and take you beyond learning and understanding standard German.
Accents vs. dialects: What’s the Difference?
Many aspiring language learners confuse the concepts of accents and dialects with one another, but they actually describe distinct linguistic concepts. Accents refer to differences in pronunciation from one geographical region to another. For example, an American would pronounce the word “tomato” as “tomayto,” while a British person would pronounce it “tomahto,” despite both people speaking English.
Dialects, on the other hand, differ from one another in many aspects, from vocabulary to sentence structure. What one English dialect calls “chips,” another dialect would call “french fries.” Some German dialects, such as Austrian as a German language, are so different in these aspects that a native speaker of one may struggle to understand the other without exposure or practice.
While accents reveal how people speak, dialects define what they say, often serving as a badge of regional identity.
The rich garden of German dialects
The German language boasts a stunning variety of dialects, reflecting its rich history and cultural evolution. Linguists who study Germanic languages estimate there are roughly 250 to 300 distinct German dialects, though the exact number is up for debate based on how exactly you choose to define a dialect. This diversity means that learning German isn’t just about mastering the grammar and vocabulary of Standard German. It’s also about appreciating the unique ways people across Germany—and other German-speaking regions—express themselves.
German dialects are loosely placed into major groups such as Hochdeutsch (high German) and Niederdeutsch (low German). You may think these dialects are divided by registers of formality since Hochdeutsch contains the official dialect of Germany and Niederdeutsch does not, but these groups are actually organized by geographical elevation.
Specifically, Hochdeutsch is called “high” German because it’s spoken in the mountainous highlands of southern Germany, while Niederdeutsch is called “low” German because it’s spoken in the northern lowlands of Germany. The lines between dialects and regional accents are often blurred, as speakers might incorporate elements of both into their everyday communication.
Learning a Dialect vs. Standard German
When you start to learn German, the choice of whether to focus on Standardhochdeutsch (standard high German) or a regional dialect like Swabian, Swiss, or Bavarian German depends on your personal goals and interests. If you’re learning German for business or long-term travel, you likely want to direct your attention to Standardhochdeutsch.
However, if your goal is to live in a specific northern region of Germany or develop your historical context through linguistics, then a Niederdeutsch (low German) dialect might be a better long-term choice. Ask yourself why you want to learn a Germanic dialect and where you’ll want to apply this knowledge to figure out what’s right for you!
Hochdeutsch (high German): The golden standard
Hochdeutsch (high German) generally serves two purposes in linguistic discussions. First, it broadly refers to the list of all sub-dialects spoken in the highlands of southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Secondly, many people refer to Hochdeutsch as the official dialect of Germany and German phrases used in government, schools, and media.
This dialect became the unifying form of communication in the Germanic region during the 16th century. This is thanks to the influence of Martin Luther, a German priest and theologian who translated the bible from its original Latin to his local dialect of Hochdeutsch. Today, Hochdeutsch serves as the golden standard for German speakers, bridging gaps between diverse regional dialects. It’s what you’ll encounter in language classes and hear in most formal contexts.
Is high German the same as standard German?
Though often used interchangeably, the terms Hochdeutsch (high German) and Standardhochdeutsch (standard high German) have distinct meanings.
Standardhochdeutsch is a formalized, standardized version of the German language, which has been derived from Hochdeutsch dialects. In short, all Standardhochdeutsch is based on Hochdeutsch, but not all Hochdeutsch is Standardhochdeutsch.
Below is an example of some differences between Standardhochdeutsch and another Hochdeutsch dialect known as Bairisch (Bavarian German).
| Dialect | Sentence Example | Key Differences |
| Standardhochdeutsch | Ich gehe zum Geschäft (I go to the store). | formal, with grammatically standardized vocabulary and structure (ich gehe, zum) |
| Bairisch | I geh zum Gschäft (I go to the store). | drops the –ch in ich (I instead of ich), contracts Geschäft to Gschäft, and simplifies grammar |
Niederdeutsch (low German): A window into the past
Niederdeutsch (low German) is a group of dialects spoken primarily in northern Germany as well as parts of the Netherlands and Denmark. The Nieder- (low) part of the term refers to the flat, lowland geography of the region, distinguishing it from the “highlands” of southern Germany where Hochdeutsch (high German) dialects originated.
Niederdeutsch is seen as a “window to the past” because it more closely resembles Old Saxon, a Germanic language spoken by the Saxon tribes in the Middle Ages in northern Europe, which eventually became Germany.
Primarily spoken in rural areas of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Saxony-Anhalt, Niederdeutsch is also kept alive by older generations. While it’s rarely used in formal settings, it holds cultural significance and remains a symbol of regional pride. There have been some efforts to revive this dialect for modern usage, but most German speakers and learners opt to use Standardhochdeutsch (standard high German) for its utility in broader audiences of communication.
Here are a few comparisons of German words and linguistic features between west low German and east low German, the two major subgroups of Niederdeutsch:
| Linguistic Feature | West Low German | East Low German |
| word for “bread” | Brot | Broot |
| word for “child” | Kind | Keen |
| pronunciation | shorter vowels, softer consonants | slightly more guttural and elongated vowels |
| vocabulary influence | strong influence from Dutch and Frisian | influence from Polish and Baltic languages due to geographic proximity |
Linguistic Features of high and low German
Hochdeutsch (high German) exhibits distinct linguistic characteristics from Niederdeutsch (low German), many of which emerged during the high German consonant shift in the early medieval period. Other grammatical differences such as how these dialects say hello in German, articles, the grammatical case system, and vowel length further cement the contrasts between these two primary German dialects.
Here are a few examples of the unique linguistic features of high and low German:
Vocabulary differences
Dialects are identified largely by their differences in vocabulary, such as different dialectal ways of saying good morning in German, as shown in the chart below
| Niederdeutsch | Hochdeutsch | English |
| Book | Buch | book |
| god | gut | good |
| Hünn | Hund | dog |
| Hüs | Haus | house |
| Moin | guten Morgen | good morning |
| Numm | Name | name |
| Oog | Auge | eye |
| Water | Wasser | water |
Consonant shift
Hochdeutsch underwent a phonological shift that transformed the sounds of certain consonants, distinguishing it from Niederdeutsch and older Germanic languages.
| Consonant Shift | Niederdeutsch Example | Hochdeutsch Example | English |
| p → pf | Peer | Pferd | horse |
| t → ts | Tied | Zeit | time |
| k → ch | maken | machen | to make |
Use of articles
Articles in Hochdeutsch include der, die, and das, reflecting grammatical gender. These articles underwent significant evolution in Hochdeutsch dialects, becoming more distinct compared to the simpler forms in Niederdeutsch such as de and dat. For example, in high German “the man” is der Mann, versus de Mann in low German.
Case system
Hochdeutsch retains a robust German case system with four cases: nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive, which Niederdeutsch largely simplified or lost over time.
| Feature | Niederdeutsch Example | Hochdeutsch Example | English |
| genitive case | von den Mann | des Mannes | of the man |
| dative case | den Mann | dem Mann | to the man |
These linguistic features demonstrate how Hochdeutsch has developed differently from Niederdeutsch to become a unique branch of the Germanic language family, forming the foundation for Standardhochdeutsch while maintaining ties to its regional dialects.
The role of dialects in German-speaking countries
German dialects are the official languages of six countries, including Austria, Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. While Standardhochdeutsch (standard high German) is used in formal settings in Germany, dialects remain crucial in rural areas, where they reflect the unique history and values of a community.
In Austria, Austrian German and Viennese dialects are also a significant part of national identity, used in both casual and cultural contexts, contributing their own vocabulary and expressions.
In Switzerland, Swiss German is a sub-dialect of Alemannisch (Alemannic German), which serves as the nation’s official language. Although Standardhochdeutsch is becoming more prevalent in Switzerland, particularly among younger people in cities, regional dialects are still flourishing through local media, festivals, and customs, helping maintain linguistic variety.
While they may not be the primary form of communication in formal settings, dialects are an integral and valued aspect of the cultural identity in German-speaking regions.
Go beyond standard German with Rosetta Stone
If you’re looking to immerse yourself in the rich diversity of the German language, going beyond standard German with Rosetta Stone can be a great way to explore regional dialects and cultural nuances.
Rosetta Stone offers a unique approach to language learning through culturally enriched, immersive methods that make German easy to learn. Whether you’re traveling, living abroad, or connecting with native speakers on a deeper level, learning German with Rosetta Stone gives you the tools to engage with local communities more authentically.