German from Germany, Austria and Switzerland: Key vocabulary differences

When discussing the German language, it can sometimes be tempting to think of it purely in terms of its use within Germany, which is by far the largest German-speaking country in the world. However, it is important to remember that, like with any language, there are different variations and dialects to be aware of.
It is estimated that around 105 million people around the world speak German as native speakers, while an additional 80 million people speak it as a second language. Approximately 8 million native German speakers live in Austria, while German also has official status and is widely spoken in Switzerland as well.
Although German speakers in both countries will have no problem understanding somebody speaking standard German to a decent extent, it is essential to recognise that the German spoken in Austria and Switzerland differs in many aspects as well. Here, we take a closer look at some of the key vocabulary differences of Swiss German vs Austrian German and standard German.

Austrian German, Swiss German and Standard German

Austrian German

The variation of German spoken in Austria is known as Austrian German, or Österreichisches Deutsch. Despite their differences, Austrian German and standard German are generally considered to be mutually intelligible, meaning a German will usually understand German from Austria, and vice versa.

Austrian German dates back to the 18th century and is a source of pride for people living in the country, many of whom like to use Austrian phrases and expressions, rather than standard German equivalents. Below, we list some Austrian German words and phrases, along with their standard German counterparts and English translation.

Austrian German vocabulary

Austrian German: Erdapfel
Standard German: Kartoffel
Translation: Potato

Austrian German: Paradeiser
Standard German: Tomate
Translation: Tomato

Austrian German: Faschiertes
Standard German: Hackfleisch
Translation: Ground beef

Austrian German: Jänner
Standard German: Januar
Translation: January

Austrian German: Sackerl
Standard German: Tüte
Translation: Bag

Austrian German: Obers
Standard German: Schlagsahne
Translation: Whipped cream

Austrian German: Heuer
Standard German: Dieses Jahr
Translation: This year

Austrian German: Marillen
Standard German: Aprikosen
Translation: Apricots

Austrian German: Rauchfang
Standard German: Schornstein
Translation: Chimney

Austrian German: Stiege
Standard German: Treppe
Translation: Stairs

While all of the above words will be understood by Austrian German speakers, it is worth noting that many of the standard German expressions are used as well. For instance, while the word ‘Erdapfel’ is the accepted Austrian German term for ‘potato’, more than half of the Austrian population use the standard German ‘Kartoffel’.

The various German dialects spoken in Switzerland fall under the catch-all term Swiss German, or Schweizerdeutsch. It is important to understand that German from Switzerland is not uniformed and incorporates dozens of individual dialects. Nevertheless, these dialects do share similarities, allowing them to be broadly grouped together.

In terms of vocabulary, one noticeable element of Swiss German vs German is the borrowing of English words for technological innovations. While a new word is often coined for new technology in standard German, Swiss speakers often use a variation of the English word, albeit with significantly different pronunciation. Moreover, it’s worth noting the influence of French, another of the official languages in Switzerland.

Swiss German vocabulary

Swiss German: Zmorge
Standard German: Frühstück
Translation: Breakfast

Swiss German: Trottoir
Standard German: Gehsteig
Translation: Pavement/sidewalk

Swiss German: Rechner
Standard German: Taschenrechner
Translation: Calculator

Swiss German: Coiffeur
Standard German: Frisör
Translation: Hairdresser

Swiss German: Anken
Standard German: Butter
Translation: Butter

Swiss German: Velo
Standard German: Fahrrad
Translation: Bicycle

Swiss German: Härzig
Standard German: Niedlich
Translation: Cute

Swiss German: Dehei
Standard German: Zu hause
Translation: At home

Much like with Austrian German, Swiss German words are not always used, and sometimes standard German words and phrases will be used instead. In general, there is a city/rural divide, with cities having lost much of the Swiss vocabulary over time. Nevertheless, some standard German words, like Frühstück, are almost never used.