5.32 Regional and national variants — Epoché
What you will be able to do Recognise sixty words that differ between the regions and countries where German is spoken: Austria, Switzerland, southern Germany, northern and eastern Germany. Know the standard word for each regional one, and the regional words for common standard ones: Karotte , Möhre , Gelbe Rübe , Rüebli . Understand that German has three standard varieties, not one standard and two dialects. Recognise the words of the divided Germany: Ostberlin , Grenzübergang , die Wende . Sentences from this lesson, before the explanation. Read the German aloud; all of them come back below. German English Schälen Sie den Meerrettich und reiben Sie ihn fein. [1] Peel the horseradish and grate it finely. Auf dem Gehsteig ist es rutschig. [2] The sidewalk is slippery. Sind Sie sich sicher, dass Sie mich nicht begleiten wollen? [3] Are you sure you don't want to join me? Ich würde dich sehr gerne begleiten, aber ich kann nicht. [4] I really want to go with you, but I can't. Kommt der Weihnachtsmann dieses Jahr? [5] Is Santa coming this year? Ich werde morgen früher zurückkehren. [6] I will return earlier tomorrow. Morgen kommt der Weihnachtsmann. Tschüss! [7] Father Christmas is coming tomorrow. Bye! Prerequisites : 5.31 — you need the three standards of 11.3 Background and the regional accents of 8.2 Listening . In 11.3 Background you learned that German is a pluricentric language: Germany, Austria and Switzerland each have their own standard, with its own words, spellings and pronunciation. An Austrian news reader who says Jänner and Paradeiser speaks correct standard German, Austrian standard German. Within Germany, too, everyday words differ from north to south, and the forty years of division left traces in the east. This lesson collects sixty such words. Many of them are words for food, because food is local; others are words for everyday trades and things. You do not need to use them, but you will meet them as soon as you travel or read a regional newspaper. Word list Sixty words in five groups: Austria, Switzerland, southern Germany, northern and eastern Germany, and standard words with their regional variants. Austria Word (article, plural) Meaning Notes die Marille（-n） de apricot Gender / part of speech feminine noun, Austrian How English differs In Germany die Aprikose . Pfirsiche sind größer als Marillen. [8] Peaches are larger than apricots. das Obers de cream Gender / part of speech neuter noun, no plural, Austrian How English differs In Germany die Sahne ; whipped cream is das Schlagobers . Er isst Erdbeeren immer mit Obers. [9] He always has cream with his strawberries. der Kren de horseradish Gender / part of speech masculine noun, no plural, Austrian and Bavarian How English differs In standard German der Meerrettich . Schälen Sie den Kren und reiben Sie ihn fein. [10] Peel the horseradish and grate it finely. der Kukuruz de maize, corn Gender / part of speech masculine noun, no plural, Austrian How English differs In Germany der Mais . In diesem Jahr werde ich wahrscheinlich Kukuruz statt Erdäpfel anpflanzen. [11] This year I think I'll grow corn instead of potatoes. der Gehsteig（-e） de pavement, sidewalk Gender / part of speech masculine noun, Austrian and southern How English differs In northern Germany der Bürgersteig . Pass auf! Der Gehsteig ist rutschig. [12] Watch out! The pavement's slippery. das Beisl（-n） de pub, small restaurant Gender / part of speech neuter noun, Viennese How English differs A simple Viennese inn with home cooking. Meine Frau arbeitet in einem Beisl in der Nähe. [13] My wife works in a nearby pub. der Fleischhauer（-） de butcher Gender / part of speech masculine noun, Austrian How English differs In Germany Metzger , Fleischer or Schlachter , depending on the region. Er ist Fleischhauer. [14] He's a butcher. der Strudel（-） de strudel; whirlpool Gender / part of speech masculine noun How English differs der Apfelstrudel is the Austrian pastry; the first meaning is a whirlpool. Unser Boot wurde in einen Strudel gesaugt. [15] Our boat got sucked into a whirlpool. der Knödel（-） de dumpling Gender / part of speech masculine noun, Austrian and southern How English differs In central and northern Germany der Kloß . Ich hätte großen Appetit auf Knödel. [16] I really want to eat dumplings. der Wiener（-） de Viennese person Gender / part of speech masculine noun How English differs Also a frankfurter sausage, which in Vienna is called Frankfurter . Ich habe mich in ein Wiener Mädchen verliebt. [17] I fell in love with a girl from Vienna. der Österreicher（-） de Austrian Gender / part of speech masculine noun How English differs die Österreicherin ; the adjective is österreichisch . Er ist Österreicher. [18] He's Austrian. Switzerland Word (article, plural) Meaning Notes das Natel（-s） de mobile phone Gender / part of speech neuter noun, Swiss How English differs In Germany das Handy . Mein Natel läutet. [19] My cellphone is ringing. das Tram（-s） de tram Gender / part of speech neuter noun, Swiss How English differs Neuter in Switzerland, feminine in Germany; standard die Straßenbahn . The example uses the German feminine, die Tram . Die Stadt hat sich entschieden, die Tram abzuschaffen. [20] The city has decided to do away with the streetcar. zügeln de to rein in; (Swiss) to move house Gender / part of speech weak verb How English differs In Switzerland to move house ; elsewhere to curb , as in the example. Sie müssen ihre Wut zügeln lernen. [21] You need to learn to keep your anger in check. der Rahm de cream Gender / part of speech masculine noun, no plural, Swiss and southern How English differs In northern Germany die Sahne . Butter wird aus Rahm gemacht. [22] Butter is made from cream. das Schweizerdeutsch de Swiss German Gender / part of speech neuter noun, no plural How English differs The spoken Alemannic dialects; Swiss write standard German, without ß . Ich verstehe kein Schweizerdeutsch. [23] I don't understand Swiss German. der Schweizer（-） de