Colognian dialect facts for kids

The Colognian dialect, also known as Kölsch, is a special way of speaking German. People living in and around the city of Cologne in western Germany use it. Today, most people in Cologne speak High German as their main language, but they might also use Kölsch.

How Many People Speak Kölsch?

About 250,000 people actively speak Kölsch every day. Many more people understand it well. Around 2.5 million people understand Kölsch and use some of its words. Also, about 20 to 30 million people understand parts of it.

How to Say "Kölsch"?

Saying "Kölsch" can be a bit tricky. It starts like the "ker" in "kernel." Then, you add a deep "l" sound, like in "bold." Finally, you finish with a "sh" sound, like in "shrimps." The German "ö" sound is special. It's somewhere between the "o" in "go" and the "e" in "bed."

Where Does the Name "Kölsch" Come From?

The word 'Kölsch' comes from the city name Cologne. In German, Cologne is called 'Köln'. But in the Kölsch dialect, it's called 'Kölle'.

The German word 'kölnisch' means 'belonging to Cologne' or 'from Cologne'. You might know 'kölnisch Wasser', which is Eau de Cologne. Over time, 'kölnisch' or 'köllesch' became shorter, turning into 'kölsch'. This shorter word then became a common name for the local beer and the local language.

The city's name, Cologne, comes from ancient Roman times. About 100 years before Christ, the Romans built a fort where a German tribe lived. Later, under Julius Caesar, it became a Roman colony. A long Roman name, 'Colonia Clavdia Ara Agrippinensivm Oppidvm Vbiorum', slowly changed into 'Köln' over many centuries.

The History of Kölsch

Some people who speak Kölsch believe it's very old, even from before Roman times. However, the Kölsch dialect actually grew from a mix of Lower German and Middle High German. This happened during the Middle Ages.

Kölsch also learned words from other languages. This was because of trade and political connections, especially during the time of the Hanse. Many people also moved to Cologne over the years, bringing their languages with them.

In more recent times, Kölsch was influenced by:

• French: When Napoleon's army occupied Cologne from 1794 to 1815.
• Prussian: When Prussian kings took over after the French.
• Dutch: From people moving to Cologne, trade, and being close to the Netherlands.
• English: From British and American armies after 1945, and from European integration and worldwide globalization.
• Other Languages: Recently, some words from migrants from Southern Europe and Turkey have started to appear in Kölsch.

What Makes Kölsch Special?

Kölsch has some very unique features:

• Many Vowel Sounds: Kölsch has a huge number of different vowel sounds. Only one other language in Europe has as many! It also has many different "sh" sounds. If you don't say them exactly right, people will know you're not a native speaker.
• Flexible and Accepting: Kölsch is similar to other dialects nearby, but also different. It easily takes in new ways of speaking and small changes. There isn't a strict "right" or "wrong" way to speak Kölsch. Being different is okay, just like every person is different.
• Well-Studied Language: Kölsch is very well documented. Linguists at local universities study Kölsch and other dialects from the Ripuarian region. Also, the Akademie för uns Kölsche Sproch (which means 'Academy for our Kölsch language') offers classes and trips for everyone. They even publish a dictionary, a grammar book, and phrase books. It's probably the only place like it in the world!

Kölsch and Society

After World War II, many people from former East German regions (now part of Poland) moved to Cologne. This didn't change the Kölsch language much, but it did change the new people. They quickly started to join in social life and learn Kölsch.

At first, they didn't speak it perfectly. The Kölsch speakers noticed this and quickly made up a word for them: "imi." This word meant 'imitating' or 'imitated' Kölsch. As these new people learned Kölsch well over the years, you heard the word 'imi' less often. It came back recently when the wall between East and West Germany was taken down.

Famous People Who Speak Kölsch

Many well-known people have spoken Kölsch:

• Jacques Offenbach (1819–1880): A famous composer who started the 'operetta' style of music.
• Konrad Adenauer (1876–1967): He was Cologne's mayor for a long time. Later, he became the first German prime minister (or chancellor) after World War II.
• Heinrich Böll (1917–1985): A writer and novelist who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1972.
• Peter Müller 'Dä Aap' (1927–1992): A middle-weight boxing champion.
• Peter Ludwig (1925–1996): A leader in industry and a great supporter of modern art. He started six important museums in Western Germany.
• Willy Millowitsch (1909–1999): A popular actor, TV-star, and entertainer who owned his own theatre in Cologne.
• Mario Adorf (born 1930): A famous actor and writer.
• Michael Schumacher (born 1969): A world champion in formula-one car racing.

Kölsch Music

Music is a big part of Kölsch culture.

• Willi Ostermann (1876–1936): He was a very popular poet, composer, and singer in the Kölsch region. He wrote many famous Kölsch songs. People in Cologne still sing his songs today, and many music groups perform them all the time.
• Can: This was a Kölsch rock group. They became famous in the late 1960s for starting a new style of electronic music. Most of their music is instrumental, meaning it doesn't have much singing.
• de Bläck Fööss (the Naked Feet): They were the first popular beat band to sing in the Kölsch language. They recorded a Kölsch song just for fun in 1969, and it became a local hit. They decided to keep going and became very successful. They have had many local hit songs and often play for huge crowds of 20,000 or 30,000 people. Their music includes many styles of popular music and different ways of speaking Kölsch.
• BAP: This is another Kölsch rock group. They are known for touring and performing successfully all over Germany.
• de Höhner (the Cocks and Hens): This group plays popular, rock, and dancing songs. Almost all of their songs use easy Kölsch. They even had a top hit in Germany and were Number One at the Oktoberfest in Munich. This is special because Munich is far from Cologne, and people there speak a very different language and usually don't understand Kölsch.

Images for kids

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  Colognian dialect on a sign on an S-Bahn train. Translation: Everywhere, we Cologners are on the move!

See also

In Spanish: Idioma kölsch para niños