Pennsylvania German language facts for kids
Pennsylvania German, also known as Pennsylvania Dutch, is a special kind of German language spoken mainly in the United States and Canada. Most people who speak it are part of the Amish or Mennonite communities. About 350,000 people speak this unique language today.
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Where Did It Come From?
The people who first spoke Pennsylvania German mostly came from a region in Germany called the Palatinate. Other families came from places like Switzerland, Swabia, Baden, and Alsace. These immigrants mostly settled in states like Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.
Pennsylvania German was very common in Pennsylvania until the 1900s. Even today, the Amish and Mennonite communities continue to speak it.
Learning Pennsylvania German
You can even study Pennsylvania German at Kutztown University! They have a program where students can learn this interesting language.
How Is It Different from Standard German?
Pennsylvania German is a bit simpler than Standard German. For example, some tricky grammar rules, like the "genitive case," are not used. Also, the endings of adjectives are much easier.
Different Sounds
Some sounds found in Standard German, like the "ö" and "ü" sounds, are not in Pennsylvania German. So, a word like Köpfe (which means "heads") becomes Kepp in Pennsylvania German. And Kühe (meaning "cows") becomes Kieh.
The Lord's Prayer: A Comparison
Here's how a famous prayer, The Lord's Prayer, looks in English, Pennsylvania German, and Standard German. You can see how the words change!
| English (BCP) | Pennsylvania German | Modern German (standard wording) |
|---|---|---|
| Our Father who art in heaven, | Unser Vadder im Himmel, | Vater Unser im Himmel, |
| Hallowed be thy name. | dei Naame loss heilich sei, | geheiligt werde dein Name, |
| Thy kingdom come. | Dei Reich loss komme. | Dein Reich komme. |
| Thy will be done, | Dei Wille loss gedu sei, | Dein Wille geschehe, |
| on earth as it is in heaven. | uff die Erd wie im Himmel. | wie im Himmel, so auf Erden. |
| Give us this day our daily bread. | Unser deeglich Brot gebb uns heit, | Unser tägliches Brot gib uns heute, |
| And forgive us our trespasses; | Un vergebb unser Schulde, | Und vergib uns unsere Schuld, |
| as we forgive those who trespass against us. | wie mir die vergewwe wu uns schuldich sinn. | wie auch wir vergeben unseren Schuldigern. |
| And lead us not into temptation | Un fiehr uns net in die Versuchung, | Und führe uns nicht in Versuchung, |
| but deliver us from evil. | awwer hald uns vum ewile. | sondern erlöse uns von dem Bösen. |
| For thine is the kingdom, the power | Fer dei is es Reich, die Graft, | Denn Dein ist das Reich, und die Kraft |
| and the glory, For ever and ever. | un die Hallichkeit in Ewichkeit. | und die Herrlichkeit in Ewigkeit. |
| Amen. | Amen. | Amen. |
Images for kids
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This map shows the area where Rhine Franconian is spoken. 1 Hessian, 2 Palatinate German 3 Lorraine Franconian
See also
In Spanish: Alemán de Pensilvania para niños
