Is Hochdeutsch Standard German?

In German, Standard German is generally called Hochdeutsch, reflecting the fact that its phonetics are largely those of the High German spoken in the southern uplands and the Alps (including Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and parts of northern Italy as well as southern Germany).

Which language is mostly used in Germany?

The official language of Germany is German, with over 95\% of the population speaking German as their first language. Minority languages include Sorbian, spoken by 0.09\% in the east of Germany and North Frisian spoken in Nordfriesland by around 10,000 people, or 0.01\%, who also speak German.

Where in Germany is Hochdeutsch spoken?

High German (Hochdeutsch) Middle High German was the language of an extensive literature that includes the early 13th-century epic Nibelungenlied. Modern standard High German is descended from the Middle High German dialects and is spoken in the central and southern highlands of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

How widely spoken is German?

Around 130 million people speak German as their mother language or as a second language. German is the most widely spoken mother language in the European Union and an official language in seven countries. In 42 countries there are more than 7.5 million people who belong to a German-speaking minority.

Does everyone in Germany speak English?

Long story short: You can survive in Germany without knowing the German language; most Germans speak English, the train usually runs announcements in English and in restaurants or bars, waiters and waitresses often speak English, especially in the city center.

Is German standardized?

Although Standard German is clearly based on the East Middle German dialects, it is not identical with any one of them; it has accepted and standardized many forms from other areas, notably the Upper German sound pf (Pfund, Apfel) and also large numbers of individual words…

Do people speak Hochdeutsch?

Most people, especially in the cities, are capable of speaking Hochdeutsch (often with a stronger or weaker Bavarian accent) but only do so when talking to non-speakers of Bavarian, e.g. visitors from other regions of Bavaria, not as a general rule in their everyday life.