The peculiar language of the Amish
The Amish of America speak a hybrid dialect called Pennsylvania Dutch or Pennsylvania German. It is a Germanic language with a good amount of English mixed in.
If you sit and listen to two Amish speaking, you may be surprised that what seems like every fifth or tenth or twentieth word is actually English. Occasionally you find you can sort of follow along as they speak.
PA Dutch is a largely unwritten language. When the Amish write notes and letters to one another, they usually use English.
But the typical Amish child will not speak much or any English until he or she reaches school age. PA Dutch is the first language they learn as toddlers, and the language that most Amish are most comfortable conversing in. Once in school, the teacher, who is almost always Amish, teaches the children English, and all lessons are held using English as a base language.
In fact, many if not most Amish are actually trilingual, because in addition to English and ‘Dutch’, they speak and understand High German, which is the language their Bibles are written in and the language typically used in their church services.
The Amish are not the only ones who have been known to speak PA German, though they are the largest group. Speakers of the dialect, including Mennonites and non-Amish, have been found historically in the southeastern region of Pennsylvania, as well as in the Shenandoah valley region stretching south through Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.
Following this Amish language , to listen to a sample recording of Pennsylvania Dutch. Follow this Amish language and culture at the Amish America blog to read more.
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May 26, 2007at 9:06 am
Softer than German, little like Jewish, short words. Interesting.
October 3, 2007at 12:32 pm
The amish language is a beautiful lnaguage. My family is amish and I know bits and pieces of it. It is so easy to catch on to and understand.
November 1, 2007at 2:35 pm
I want to learn Amish can I? Which is the eastiest way? I do not know any Amish. I want to become Amish if possible. Do Amish still let teens have an running wild teen year? I would go to live with Amish and have a English running wild teen year. I’m 14. Gut.(I know just two words they speak gut for good and jah for yeah or yes.)
November 12, 2007at 9:42 am
I grew up in Southern Germany and I could understand quite a lot of what the Amish lady was talking about in the listening sample. It’s more German than Dutch so why is it called Pennsylvania Dutch? It’s a very interesting language with a very interesting history.
November 12, 2007at 2:54 pm
@ Kerstin: Your right it is closer to German than Dutch; however, the confusion started when English speakers started to say ‘Deutsch’, which means German of course in German, and to English speakers it was transformed to the word ‘Dutch’. My friend Eric is one of the world experts on the Amish and his site is above.
January 2, 2008at 7:14 pm
I am doing a book report on a book written by Beverly Lewis called The Parting. So far it is really good. I know some PA dutch and can understand it for the most part. I love learning about their culture!!!: )
January 23, 2008at 8:14 am
Is there a CD or tape to learn Pa Dutch. My husband is Pa. Dutch and can speak but, I would like to learn. He is not a good teacher.
January 23, 2008at 8:48 am
@Bridget I have not herd of any Amish language CDs. However, I am sure there are some Amish language resources. And I teach languages, its very hard sometimes for a husband or wife to teach their other half a language, for various reasons. However, I was thinking of making one. I think if you can use a digital recorder, record and learn about 2000 Amish words. Or even just make flashcards, a low tech but effective way.
January 28, 2008at 4:08 pm
I just started dating a man who grew up Amish. He and his cusion are always speaking in the Amish language and won’t tell anyone what they are saying. I would like to learn so I can suprise them and just jump in the conversation! Can you help me? Thanks a million!
February 28, 2008at 12:25 pm
The Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society has PA Dutch Language Books and tapes. Unfortunately, they do not accept mail orders. Their library and bookstore are located on Route 30 east of Lancaster.
By the way, the term Pennsylvania Dutch comes from the term that was used by the English colonial government of Pennsylvania in the 1700s, not the fact that they spoke Deitsch. The English divided the inhabitants of the Rhein into two categories - the low Dutch (primarily today’s Hollanders) and the high Dutch (primarily the Germans of today.) Germany didn’t exist in the 1700s - it was a collection of over 400 independent states of various sizes - and the English used the term “high Dutch” to describe this collection of states.