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Language Spoken

What Languages Are Spoken In Austria?

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Austria is a linguistically diverse country with several languages spoken across its regions.

Official Language Of Austria

German is the official language of Austria, spoken by 98% of the population. Specifically, Austrians speak Austrian German, which is slightly different from Standard German, with unique accents and vocabulary.

See German Language Guide For Travelers

Major Unofficial Languages

Two significant unofficial languages are prominent in Austria:

  1. Austro-Bavarian: A collection of dialects spoken by around 7 million people, essentially a de facto main language of the country.
  2. Alemannic: Primarily spoken in the western state of Vorarlberg and parts of Tyrol, with approximately 300,000 speakers.

Minority Languages In Austria

Several minority languages are recognized in Austria:

  • Burgenland Croatian: An official language in the Burgenland region, spoken by about 2.5% of Austrians
  • Serbo-Croatian: The largest minority language, spoken by over 4% of the population
  • Turkish: The second-largest minority language, spoken by 2.3% of the population
  • Hungarian: Historically significant, now spoken by around 1,000 people in Burgenland
  • Slovene: An official language in the southern province of Carinthia

Foreign Languages In Austria

English is widely spoken as a foreign language, with a significant portion of the population learning it in schools. Other foreign languages include French and Italian. Foreign language proficiency in Austria includes:

Austria’s linguistic landscape reflects its rich historical and cultural diversity, with German serving as the primary unifying languages.

Austrian German vs. Standard German

Austrian German and Standard German, while fundamentally similar, exhibit several notable differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Here are some key examples:

Pronunciation and Accent

  • Accent:
    • Austrian German features a distinct accent characterized by a slower pace and a more melodic intonation compared to Standard German.
    • Vowels are often pronounced more openly, and the letter “r” is typically rolled, influenced by Bavarian dialects.
  • Consonant Sounds:
    • The pronunciation of certain consonants can differ; for example, the final “g” in words like “König” is pronounced more softly in Standard German (/könish/) than in Austrian German (/könig/) where it retains a harder sound.

Vocabulary Differences

  • Common Words:
    There are unique terms used in Austrian German that differ from Standard German. For instance:
    • “Semmel” (Austrian) vs. “Brötchen” (Standard) for bread roll.
    • “Bim” (Austrian) vs. “Straßenbahn” (Standard) for tram.
    • “Schauen” (Austrian) vs. “Sehen” (Standard) for to see.
  • Diminutive Forms:
    Austrians often use the suffixes -el or -erl for diminutives instead of the -chen or -lein used in Standard German.

Grammatical Variations

  • Auxiliary Verbs: In forming the past perfect tense, Austrian German may use “haben” instead of “sein” for certain verbs that typically require “sein” in Standard German. For example, an Austrian might say “ich habe gefahren” (I drove), whereas in Standard German it would be “ich bin gefahren”.
  • Possession: The genitive case is less frequently used in Austrian German; instead, possession is often expressed using the dative case.

These differences reflect not only linguistic variations but also cultural influences that have shaped the way language is used in Austria compared to Germany.

Explore Austria Further

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Cosmic Voyager

The Cosmic Voyager is a passionate traveler with an insatiable curiosity for the wonders of the universe, always seeking new horizons and experiences that expand the mind and soul.

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