Did you know that many people in the United States use the word “gesundheit” when someone sneezes? I’d been sitting with my German colleague, who was absolutely shocked by my knowledge of that word. I wasn’t sure why, as I was trying to improve my German. Nonetheless, I told her I grew up using that word because the German language has a long history in the United States. In fact, growing up in New York, it was just as common to hear as “bless you.”
Remitly is dedicated to providing resources for those looking to travel, relocate, or simply expand their horizons. German is a prominent West Germanic language and one of the primary languages of the European Union. This means it’s spoken in far more places than Germany and Austria—something I didn’t really think about or realize until I was living in Germany. But hey, life is all about learning, so let’s take a look at all the German-speaking countries and regions around the world.
Importance of the German language worldwide
The German language on the world stage holds significant importance. It’s widely spoken throughout Europe, and if you’re looking to work in institutions for the European Union, German will go a long way, as it’s one of the three main languages along with French and English.
With a rich history that’s produced some of the greatest and most well-known literature, philosophy, and psychology of our time—hello, Freud and Jung—the influence of German is everywhere, whether we realize it or not. The Germanic language’s fascinating history and evolution make it a key language in international business, science, and diplomacy today.
Countries with German as an official language
German is the official language in six different countries within Europe.
- Germany: “Deutschland” in German. The most populous of the German-speaking nations, with over 95% of its almost 85 million-strong population being native German speakers.
- Austria: Other languages are spoken in Österreich, but German is the sole official language of the country known as Austria in English, and the one most of the population speak.
- Switzerland: In Schweiz, as it’s called in their native tongue, German is one of four national languages. It’s spoken by 62.3% of the population at time of writing, primarily in the central and eastern regions of the country.
- Liechtenstein: This small, landlocked country only speaks German officially. You might hear other languages being spoken here and there, but German is its sole official language.
- Luxembourg: Although Luxembourg is also quite small, German is one of three official languages, alongside French and Luxembourgish (a mixture of French and German, though it leans more heavily towards German overall).
- Belgium: Last but not least on our list of countries, Belgium also declares German one of three official languages, this time alongside French and Dutch. German is primarily used in the eastern region of the country.
While so-called High German—the standard literary and spoken form of the language—is common throughout most of these countries today, dialects vary not only from one country to another but from region to region. The German spoken in Bavaria, Germany, will have significant differences to some areas of Liechtenstein or Austria, for example.
Highlights from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
Three of the more populous countries on our list are very well-known tourist destinations, drawing large numbers of visitors every year.
- Germany: Germany isn’t just known for schnitzel and bratwurst. It has contributed, over hundreds of years, great literature and important philosophy, with Kant being one of the most well-known philosophers. In fact his work continues to influence philosophy in modern times. Modern Germany is a hub for engineering and business. You can find many of its landmarks on the UNESCO Heritage site, highlighting places from the north of the country to Bavaria, farthest south.
- Austria: Austria has contributed to an incredible amount of classical music, especially during the Classical and Romantic periods. From Mozart to Schubert, Vienna was the place to be when it came to music, and it’s still a hub for classically trained artists today. Today, Austria consistently ranks highly for its quality of life, and Graz in particular is well-regarded as a cultural and artistic gem.
- Switzerland: Often recognized for its political neutrality, Switzerland serves as a center for diplomacy and finance. While banks are plentiful, don’t forget you can also find some of the world’s best chocolate and the famous fondue! Switzerland’s spectacular mountain scenery produces some of the world’s best skiers, too.
Other countries speaking German
German is only spoken officially in the six countries we’ve mentioned above. However, the German-speaking diaspora spans the globe, shaped by centuries of migration, trade, and cultural exchange.
You’ll find communities of German speakers in places you might not always expect—did you know, for example, that in the United States, Texas German is still spoken in some households today?
Countries with significant German-speaking communities
Some of the countries where German is quite commonly spoken might surprise you.
- Brazil: While Portuguese is the official language of Brazil, you’ll find German-speaking communities in southern states such as Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina after large migrations in 1870, 1890, and then in the 1920s after World War I.
- Namibia: A former German colony, Namibia’s official language today is English; however, it recognizes German as a national language.
- United States: We mentioned Texas already, but German migration to North America goes all the way back to the 1670s, so the German diaspora reaches from Pennsylvania to the Midwest all the way down to the lone star state.
- Argentina: You’ll find many German speakers in provinces like Buenos Aires and Entre Ríos due to 19th and 20th-century immigration.
Influence of German dialects in these regions
- Pennsylvania Dutch: The most prominent dialect within the U.S., Dutch is actually inaccurate, as it’s closer to “Deutsch” and combines German and English. It’s most commonly spoken in the Amish and Mennonite communities.
- Namibian German: While this dialect retains a lot of colonial-era vocabulary, with time, it has integrated local linguistic elements.
- Hunsrik: Spoken in southern Brazil, Hunsrik blends German dialects with Portuguese.
German-speaking minorities
While it may not be an official language in more than a few countries, there are plenty of regions where a minority of the population speaks German, or one of its dialects.
Regions where German is a minority language
- Italy: Don’t be fooled by the name, South Tyrol is located in the northernmost part of Italy, bordering Austria and Switzerland. German is a co-official language here, along with Italian, and is spoken by 70% of the population.
- Romania: Transylvanian Saxons and Banat Swabians maintain the German language and many of their traditions despite declining populations.
- Denmark: In the South Jutland region, a German minority of around 15,000 people continues to preserve the language and cultural institutions.
- Hungary: German minorities like the Danube Swabians have educational and cultural organizations supporting language preservation.
Cultural and historical impacts of German-speaking communities
- Tyrol: Because of the large German-speaking population in this area of Italy, communities influence local governance, education, and media, creating a bilingual society.
- Denmark: The German minority operates schools and cultural associations promoting cross-border interactions with Germany.
- Romania and Hungary: German heritage and influence are evident in architecture, festivals, and bilingual signage in both Romania and Hungary, all enriching the cultural exchange between these nations.
German language influence around the world
The German language’s global presence stems from a rich but sometimes complicated history. Waves of Germans immigrated, with almost 600,000 Germans leaving for new opportunities between 1815 and 1848, with 90% of them settling in the United States.
With such large waves of migration at different points in time, the spread of the German language has made it an important language around the world.
The spread of the German language globally
During colonial times, the German Empire established colonies in Namibia, Cameroon, and parts of Tanzania. While the language isn’t widely spoken in those nations today, there are still communities that have retained elements of the language while infusing their own local vocabularies.
While much of the German language spread through immigration and colonialism, German speakers hailing from Germany and Austria, such as Kant, Kafka, Einstein, and Freud, have made incredible contributions to science, philosophy, and literature.
Because of these global contributions and the widespread usage of the German language, it has become one of the most studied languages in countries like the Czech Republic, Russia, and Japan.
Comparison with other Germanic languages
If you’ve ever been to Germany and thought some of the words sounded awfully familiar, then you’d be correct! English is also a Germanic language, so it’s not surprising that a lot of vocabulary is relatively easy to decipher. But while many Germanic languages have common roots, they’ve gone their separate ways over time.
For example, “mother” in English, “Mutter” in German, and “moeder” in Dutch sound very similar. However, unlike Dutch and German, English grammar doesn’t contain gender. In German, there are masculine, feminine, and neuter forms.
German also tends to take compound words to the next level—das Fingerspitzengefühl, anyone? The literal meaning of this word is the “fingertip feeling,” but how we would interpret it is “tactfulness” or “instinct.”
A useful extra language to learn
English may be a global lingua franca, but German isn’t far behind. As the second most-widely spoken language in Europe, this Germanic language has held firm in its importance and influence throughout the world.
While I wish I could provide you with every single fascinating detail about the German language, I’m afraid I’m still trying to differentiate when to use der, die, dem, and das. Nevertheless, the German language is a rich and wondrous language that is filled with history that stretches across the globe.
If you’re looking to deepen your understanding of the German language, immerse yourself in studies, or advance your professional advancement, we hope this guide has helped broaden your horizons, no matter where you are on your language journey.
FAQs
Are there any German-speaking countries outside of Europe?
Although there are no countries outside of Europe where German is an official language, many countries have thriving German-speaking communities, including the United States, Brazil, and Namibia.
Which six countries speak German?
The six European countries that speak German as the official language are Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg. Other countries have German-speaking communities, but don’t class it as an official language.
Do any African countries speak German?
The German language does influence African countries—in Namibia, there are 30,000 German speakers, for example.
What are the top three German-speaking countries?
While German is spoken throughout the world, the top three countries for German speakers are Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
What countries in Europe include German as one of multiple official languages?
Switzerland, Belgium, and Luxembourg all have multiple official languages, with German being one of them in all three nations.