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Austro-Bavarian language facts for kids

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Bavarian
Bairisch
Region Austria, Bavaria, Germany, Italy
Native speakers 13 million  (2005)
Language family
Indo-European
Bairisches Mundartgebiet.PNG
Location map of Bavarian

Bavarian (also called Austro-Bavarian) is a major group of German dialects. These dialects are spoken in mountainous areas. You can find them in parts of Switzerland, Austria, and southern Germany.

Bavarian is a type of High German language. It is similar to, but not the same as, Standard German. However, Bavarian and Standard German have influenced each other a lot. Most people who speak Bavarian also speak Standard German.

The term "Austro-Bavarian" can also refer to a larger group of dialects. This group includes Bavarian itself, plus Cimbrian, Hutterite German, and Mócheno dialects.

Where Bavarian Comes From

The Bavarian language started with a Germanic tribe called the Bavarii. This tribe created a duchy (a type of kingdom) in the early Middle Ages. This duchy covered much of what is now Bavaria and parts of Austria. Later, the Bavarii tribe slowly moved along the Danube River and into the Alps. This is why Bavarian dialects are spoken in these areas today.

In German, there are two different spellings: "bairisch" and "bayerisch".

  • "Bairisch" refers to the language itself.
  • "Bayerisch" refers to the state of Bavaria. It's also used in names like BMW.

The spelling "Bayern" for the state came from King Ludwig I. He loved everything about Ancient Greece. The ancient Greek letter "Y" (upsilon) was used instead of "I". But the language kept its original spelling, "Bairisch", with an "I".

Where People Speak Bavarian

Bavarian is spoken in several countries:

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Idioma austro-bávaro para niños

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