Languages of Germany

The official language of Germany is German, and about 88 percent of the country speaks either Standard German or one of its many dialects as their first language . In different parts of Germany, people speak various forms of German that have special words and ways of saying things, which are called dialects .

Besides German, there are also recognized minority languages in Germany, and these have official status in the areas where they are mainly spoken. This means that in some regions, these languages are used alongside German in schools, signs, and government offices . These minority languages add to the rich cultural tapestry of Germany and help preserve the traditions of different groups of people living there.

Language spoken at home

In Germany, most families speak German at home. A survey in 2020 found that about 90% of households use German, while some speak other languages like Turkish or Arabic.

The survey did not separate Standard German from different German dialects spoken in various areas.

German dialects

Main article: German dialects

Germany has many different dialects of the German language. While there is a standard written and spoken form of German, people often mix this with their local dialects in everyday conversation. After big changes in the mid-20th century, many areas that used to be isolated now share more common speech patterns.

In northern Germany, standard German is used almost everywhere, with very few dialect words left. In central Germany, dialects are also disappearing. However, in southern Germany, especially in Bavaria, many people still use their local Bavarian dialect regularly in daily life.

Minority languages

Germany's main language is German, and about 88% of people speak it. There are also some minority languages spoken in different parts of the country. These include Romani, Danish, North Frisian, Saterland Frisian, Upper Sorbian, and Lower Sorbian.

Some other languages, like Yiddish and Yenish, have been discussed for official recognition but are not currently recognized as minority languages. Different areas in Germany have different levels of support for these languages. Germany joined the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 1998 to help protect these languages.

Immigrant languages

Germany has many people from other countries, making up about one-fifth to one-fourth of the population. Besides German and English, many other languages are spoken there because of people moving to Germany from different places. Some of these languages include:

This list shows the different languages spoken by immigrants in Germany and how many people speak each one.

Second languages

In 2017, at least 81% of students in Germany were learning English as their first foreign language. However, German students often do not speak English as well as students in Scandinavian countries. In some schools, French or Latin may be taught first instead.

A study from 2020 found that after English, the most common foreign languages taught in German schools were French (15%), Spanish (5%), and Russian (1%). In East Germany, Russian was the most common second language, while in West Germany, English and French were more popular. Today, there are many bilingual kindergartens and schools in Germany where children can learn German along with English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Turkish, and other languages.