For example, in High German, 'p' gradually became 'f,' while 'p' in Low German stayed the same.

Standard High German, Standarddeutsch: Over time, German writers tried various forms out until eventually it evolved into Standard High German, and you'll recognize it as the variety you're learning on Duolingo.Ī major difference between High German and Low German is something that happened to the consonants over time.

High German, Hochdeutsch: This originated south of the Low German regions and, likewise, in the areas around the world where they settled.

This is the variety of German that English is most closely related to! Although between 2/3 and 3/4 of English vocabulary is non-Germanic, there are still plenty of Germanic words in English that we use every day, like, well, “day.”

Low German, Plattdüütsch: This is what was and still is spoken in parts of Northern Germany and the Netherlands, as well as abroad in the areas where those speakers settled.

The biggest distinction we have to make before diving in is between High German and Low German.

And there's plenty about the history of German to give you that Sprachgefühl!! Highs and lowsĮven though we use “German” today, this language is the result of centuries of gradual change, involving many dialects. If you’ve been learning German and have noticed some similarities with your own language, you’ve been building some great Sprachgefühl, a feeling about language. There’s so much more to explore and discover, especially about the language. Maybe you’ve even been brushing up on your German language learning in preparation for the celebration!īut Oktoberfest is just one aspect of regional German-speaking culture. If you’re celebrating Oktoberfest this year with a bratwurst in one hand and a beer in the other, then I’m über-confident that you’re interested in German.

Why are there german words in english