Is German the same everywhere?

Definitely not. People in German-speaking countries (or any other country for that matter) are proud to talk differently than everyone else. Language is a people’s means to differentiate themselves from their (often bigger and sometimes condescending) neighbors.

How many versions of German are there?

German is a pluricentric language; the three standardized variants are German, Austrian, and Swiss Standard High German. It is also notable for its broad spectrum of dialects, with many varieties existing in Europe and other parts of the world.

What countries speak German as their main language?

German is the most widely spoken mother language and an official language in four countries in the European Union: Germany, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg. German is also an official language in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Why does everyone call Germany something different?

Almost every country that speaks a Slavic language derives its name for Germany from the Slavic nemtsi or nemetes. Etymologists think this comes from the word nemy, or “mute,” and that the ancient Slavs called the neighboring Germanic tribes mutes because they couldn’t understand their language.

How many people speak German outside of Germany?

The largest population of German-speaking individuals living outside of Germany can be found in Austria, where German is the official language. Here, nearly 8 million individuals (93\% of the population) speak it as their native language and another 516,000 can speak German as their second language.

Where are the German-speaking regions of the world?

A few other German-speaking regions are in Germany’s former colonies, including Namibia (former German Southwest Africa), Ruanda-Urundi, Burundi and several other former outposts in the Pacific. German minority populations ( Amish, Hutterites, Mennonites) are also still found in regions of North and South America.

How many countries have German as the sole official language?

German is the sole official language of the following countries: 1 Germany 2 Austria 3 17 cantons of Switzerland 4 Liechtenstein

What family does the German language belong?

The German language belongs to the Indo-European family and is considered a Germanic language. It is the second most widely spoken Germanic language (after English) and has between 90 and 95 million native language speakers and between 10 and 15 million second language speakers.