10 Facts about the German Language

The German language is a West Germanic language spoken by over 120 million people worldwide. German is the most widely spoken native language in the European Union and is an official language in six countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The recorded history of Germanic languages begins with their speakers' first contact with the Romans in the 1st century BCE. The Germanic languages evolved into North, West, and East-Germanic, and the German language that we know today (High German) developed from the West-Germanic languages. German is known for its complex grammar, with four cases for nouns, pronouns, and adjectives, three genders, and strong and weak verbs. German has a rich literary tradition, with many famous authors such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, and Thomas Mann. If you need German translation services, Idiomatic USA can help with professional translation services in over 100 languages, including German.

1. German is the most widely spoken native language in the European Union, with over 100 million speakers. It is also an official language in six countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

2. German is a pluricentric language, meaning that there are several standard varieties of the language, including High German, Low German, and Swiss German1. High German is the standard variety used in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, while Low German is spoken in northern Germany and Swiss German is spoken in Switzerland.

3. The German language has a complex system of noun declension, with four cases (nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive) and three genders (masculine, feminine, and neuter). The gender of a noun is not always predictable and must be memorized.

4. German has many loanwords from other languages, including English, French, and Latin. For example, the German word for computer is "Computer," which is borrowed from English.

1. The German language has many compound words, which are created by combining two or more words to create a new word with a new meaning. For example, "Fernweh" means "a longing for far-off places".

2. The longest German word is "Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft," which has 80 letters and means "Association for Subordinate Officials of the Head Office Management of the Danube Steamboat Electrical Services".

3. German is the second most commonly used scientific language in the world, after English. Many scientific publications are written in German, particularly in fields such as chemistry, physics, and engineering.

4. German has a rich literary tradition, with many famous authors such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, and Thomas Mann. German literature has had a significant influence on world literature, particularly in the fields of philosophy and poetry.

5. The German language has a reputation for being difficult to learn, particularly for English speakers. However, with practice and dedication, it is possible to become proficient in the language.

6. If you need German to English translation services, Idiomatic USA offers expert translation services by native speakers. 

Idiomatic USA can also help with all your German translation needs, providing professional translation services in over 100 languages, including German. We provide personalized assessment and free quotes for your translation requests. Get in touch with us today.