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German dialect

Schwyzerdütsch

Also known as: Swiss German, Schweizerdeutsch

A cluster of High Alemannic varieties spoken across German-speaking Switzerland. Mutually unintelligible with Standard German for most non-Swiss listeners.

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Frequently asked questions

What language is Schwyzerdütsch?

Schwyzerdütsch is a dialect of the German language.

Where is Schwyzerdütsch spoken?

Schwyzerdütsch is primarily spoken in Switzerland.

Which region is Schwyzerdütsch associated with?

Schwyzerdütsch is part of the Europe region on DialectAtlas.

Is Schwyzerdütsch known by other names?

Yes — Schwyzerdütsch is also referred to as Swiss German, Schweizerdeutsch.

What are the other dialects of German?

German also includes Hochdeutsch, Bairisch, Schwäbisch, Sächsisch, Berlinerisch, Plattdüütsch, Hessisch, Kölsch, Wienerisch, Namibian German, Hunsrik, Pennsylvania Dutch, Texas German. Each variety has its own vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural context.

Other German dialects

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Hochdeutsch

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

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.

Kölsch

Cologne German · Ripuarian

A Ripuarian Central Franconian dialect spoken in Cologne and the surrounding Rhineland. Distinctive for its melodic intonation and rich local vocabulary.

Namibian German

Namdeutsch · Namibisches Deutsch · Namibia-Deutsch

The German variety of Namibia, maintained by a long-standing German-speaking minority and shaped by contact with Afrikaans, English, and Namibian languages such as Oshiwambo, Otjiherero, and Khoekhoegowab. It remains visible in schools, churches, media, tourism, and everyday community life, especially around Windhoek and the coast.

Hunsrik

Brazilian German · Riograndenser Hunsrückisch · Hunsrückisch

A German-derived minority variety spoken by descendants of nineteenth-century settlers in southern Brazil, especially Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná. It descends mainly from Hunsrück Franconian and has developed under long contact with Brazilian Portuguese.

Texas German

Texasdeutsch

An endangered German enclave variety spoken by descendants of nineteenth-century German settlers in central Texas, especially around New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, and the Hill Country. It preserves older German features while reflecting long contact with American English.

Nearby dialects

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Romansh

95 km away

A Rhaeto-Romance language and the fourth official language of Switzerland, spoken across the canton of Graubünden. Around 60,000 speakers; the federal standard (Rumantsch Grischun) bridges five regional varieties.

Sinte Manouche

147 km away

A northwestern Romanes variety spoken by Sinti and Manouche communities across Germany, France, the Benelux, and northern Italy. Shaped by long contact with Germanic and Romance languages.

Swiss French

173 km away

The French of western Switzerland. Like Belgian French, retains older numerals (septante, huitante, nonante) and shows long contact with German-Swiss varieties.

Lombard

218 km away

The Gallo-Italic variety of Lombardy and Italian-speaking Switzerland. Internally split between Western (Milan) and Eastern (Bergamo) groupings.

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