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 known as: 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.
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Frequently asked questions
What language is Lower Sorbian?
Lower Sorbian is a dialect of Sorbian.
Where is Lower Sorbian spoken?
Lower Sorbian is primarily spoken in Germany.
Which region is Lower Sorbian associated with?
Lower Sorbian is part of the Europe region on DialectAtlas.
Is Lower Sorbian known by other names?
Yes — Lower Sorbian is also referred to as Dolnoserbski, Niedersorbisch, Wendish.
Is Lower Sorbian endangered?
Lower Sorbian is critically endangered. Only a small number of mostly elderly speakers remain, and the variety is at imminent risk of being lost.
What are the other dialects of Sorbian?
Sorbian also includes Upper Sorbian. Each variety has its own vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural context.