Germany
Home to 11 dialects represented on Dialect Atlas, spanning 3 language families.
Romani dialects in Germany
About Romani →German dialects in Germany
About German →Hochdeutsch
also: Standard German, Standard High German, Schriftdeutsch
The codified standard variety of German used in education, media, and administration across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Based on the High German consonant shift and a written norm dating to Luther; the spoken standard is conventionally associated with the Hanover region of Lower Saxony.
Bairisch
also: Bavarian, Bavarian-Austrian
A large Upper German dialect group spoken across Bavaria and most of Austria, with distinctive vowel shifts and vocabulary far removed from Standard German.
Schwäbisch
also: Swabian
An Alemannic dialect spoken across Baden-Württemberg and parts of Bavaria. Recognisable for its diminutive "-le" suffix and softened consonants.
Sächsisch
also: Saxon, Upper Saxon
An East Central German dialect spoken in Saxony around Dresden and Leipzig, characterised by softened plosives and a distinctive intonation.
Berlinerisch
also: Berlin German, Berlinisch
The urban dialect of Berlin and surrounding Brandenburg. Mixes Low German substrate with Standard German, famous for its dry humour and clipped delivery.
Plattdüütsch
also: Low German, Niederdeutsch, Plattdeutsch
The Low German varieties of northern Germany and the eastern Netherlands. Linguistically closer to Dutch and English than to Standard German in several core features.
Hessisch
also: Hessian
A Central German dialect group covering Hesse around Frankfurt. The Frankfurt variety is widely recognisable from German television and theatre.
Kölsch
also: Cologne German, Ripuarian
A Ripuarian Central Franconian dialect spoken in Cologne and the surrounding Rhineland. Distinctive for its melodic intonation and rich local vocabulary.
Sorbian dialects in Germany
About Sorbian →Upper Sorbian
also: Hornjoserbsce, Obersorbisch
A West Slavic language spoken by the Sorb minority of Upper Lusatia in Saxony, centred on Bautzen (Budyšin). Around 13,000 speakers; carries a continuous literary tradition since the 16th century.
Lower Sorbian
also: Dolnoserbski, Niedersorbisch, Wendish
A West Slavic language spoken by the Sorb minority of Lower Lusatia in Brandenburg, centred on Cottbus (Chóśebuz). Critically endangered, with revitalisation efforts in bilingual schools and the Witaj programme.