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German dialect

Texas German

Also known as: 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.

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Frequently asked questions

What language is Texas German?

Texas German is a dialect of the German language.

Where is Texas German spoken?

Texas German is primarily spoken in United States.

Which region is Texas German associated with?

Texas German is part of the North America region on DialectAtlas.

Is Texas German known by other names?

Yes — Texas German is also referred to as Texasdeutsch.

Is Texas German endangered?

Texas German is severely endangered. It is largely spoken by older generations; parents may understand it but typically do not pass it on to their children.

What are the other dialects of German?

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

Other German dialects

See on the atlas →
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.

Nearby dialects

See on the atlas →
Northern Mexican Spanish

496 km away

The Spanish of northern Mexico, centred on Monterrey and Chihuahua. Distinct from central Mexican Spanish in vowel realisation, intonation, and a distinct lexicon shaped by long contact with US English.

Choctaw

505 km away

A Muskogean language with two surviving communities — the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, descendants of the Trail-of-Tears removal. Around 10,000 speakers.

Chickasaw

580 km away

A Muskogean language of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. Closely related to Choctaw; critically endangered with active revitalisation through the Chickasaw Nation Language Department.

Cajun English

590 km away

The English of the Cajun communities of southern Louisiana, descended from generations of French-English bilingualism. Distinguished by intonation, vowel realisations, and lexical borrowings from Cajun French.

Cajun French

590 km away

The French of the Cajun communities of southern Louisiana, descended from 18th-century Acadian settlers expelled from the Maritimes. Endangered, with active revitalisation through CODOFIL and the Louisiana French immersion programme.

Muscogee (Creek)

689 km away

A Muskogean language of the Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole nations of Oklahoma and Florida. The historical lingua franca of the Southeastern Indigenous confederacy before forced removal.

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