Austrian German vs German: The Differences That Matter
Austrian German vs German from Germany is a difference of variety, not of language. Both are Standard German with the same grammar and spelling rules, so anything you learn in a normal German course works in Austria. The main differences are everyday vocabulary (Jänner, Paradeiser, Sackerl), greetings, pronunciation and a few grammar habits. You will be understood.
Linguists call German a pluricentric language: Germany, Austria and Switzerland each have their own correct standard variety. Austrian German is not a “wrong” German, and German German is not the “real” one. For the Swiss side of this picture, see Swiss German vs High German.
Austrian German vs German: vocabulary
Food words cause the most confusion, especially at the market and in the supermarket. These are used in standard Austrian German, including on menus, packaging and in official writing.
| Austria | Germany | English |
|---|---|---|
| der Jänner | der Januar | January |
| der Feber (less common) | der Februar | February |
| der Paradeiser | die Tomate | tomato |
| die Erdäpfel | die Kartoffeln | potatoes |
| das Sackerl | die Tüte | (plastic/paper) bag |
| der Topfen | der Quark | quark, curd cheese |
| die Marille | die Aprikose | apricot |
| der Karfiol | der Blumenkohl | cauliflower |
| die Fisolen | die grünen Bohnen | green beans |
| der Kren | der Meerrettich | horseradish |
| das Schlagobers | die Schlagsahne | whipped cream |
| das Obers | die Sahne | cream |
| die Semmel | das Brötchen | bread roll |
| das Faschierte | das Hackfleisch | minced meat |
| die Jause | die Brotzeit / der Snack | snack, light meal |
| der Kasten | der Schrank | wardrobe, cupboard |
| der Sessel | der Stuhl | chair |
| der Polster | das Kissen | cushion, pillow |
| die Stiege | die Treppe | stairs |
| das Spital | das Krankenhaus | hospital |
| die Ordination | die Arztpraxis | doctor’s practice |
| die Matura | das Abitur | school-leaving exam |
| heuer | dieses Jahr | this year |
| die Trafik | der Kiosk | tobacco and newspaper shop |
| die Kassa | die Kasse | till, checkout |
| das Packerl | das Päckchen | small parcel |
Two words that can trip you up: in Austria “der Sessel” usually means an ordinary chair (in Germany it is an armchair), and “der Kasten” is a wardrobe (in Germany it often means a box or crate). If you work in healthcare, “Spital” and “Ordination” appear on signs and letters, and you will hear patients use them every day. The general words in German at the doctor still apply.
Greetings: how to say hello in Austria
| Austrian | Use | German equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Grüß Gott | Polite hello, shops, offices, older people, rural areas | Guten Tag |
| Servus | Hello and goodbye among friends, colleagues | Hallo / Tschüss |
| Grüß dich / Griaß di | Informal hello to one person | Hallo |
| Habe die Ehre | Old-fashioned polite greeting, still heard in Vienna | Guten Tag |
| Baba | Informal bye | Tschüss |
| Pfiat di / Pfiat eich | Informal bye (rural, Bavarian-Austrian) | Tschüss |
| Auf Wiederschauen | Polite goodbye | Auf Wiedersehen |
“Guten Tag” and “Hallo” are fine in Austria too; nobody will mind. In a shop or at the doctor, “Grüß Gott” sounds friendly and local. For the general rules on formal and informal greetings, see how to say hi in German.
Pronunciation differences
You do not need to copy an Austrian accent, but knowing these patterns helps you understand people:
- Final -ig: pronounced like “-ik” in Austria. König sounds like “Könik”; in much of Germany it ends with a soft “ch” sound.
- Initial s: often voiceless in Austria. “Sonne” starts with a sharp [s], not the buzzing [z] of northern Germany.
- Ch before e and i: in words like Chemie and China, Austrians usually say a “k” sound: “Kemie”, “Kina”.
- Stress on loanwords: Kaffee is stressed on the second syllable (Kaf-FEE), while many Germans say KAF-fee.
- Vowels: a is darker, and the “ei” diphthong can sound more open. The overall melody is softer and slower than northern German.
Dialects add another layer. Most of Austria speaks Bavarian-Austrian dialects, while Vorarlberg in the west speaks Alemannic, close to Swiss German. In Vienna you will hear Viennese dialect in everyday speech. People switch towards standard language with learners, so you can always say: “Können Sie bitte etwas langsamer sprechen?” (Could you speak a bit more slowly, please?)
Grammar differences
The grammar is the same system, with a few well-known habits.
1. Perfekt with sein for sitzen, stehen, liegen. In Austria (and in southern Germany) these verbs form the Perfekt with sein:
- Austria: Ich bin zwei Stunden im Wartezimmer gesessen. (I sat in the waiting room for two hours.)
- Germany (north): Ich habe zwei Stunden im Wartezimmer gesessen.
Both are correct standard German. For the general rule, see Perfekt with haben or sein.
2. Different genders for some nouns.
| Austria | Germany |
|---|---|
| das Cola | die Cola |
| das E-Mail (common) | die E-Mail |
| der Polster | das Kissen (different word) |
| das Joghurt (common) | der Joghurt |
3. Diminutives with -erl and -l. Where Germany says -chen, Austria often says -erl: das Sackerl, das Packerl, das Stamperl (small glass). You will also hear “ein bisserl” for “ein bisschen”.
4. Prepositions. Austrians often say “auf Urlaub” (Germany: “in Urlaub”), “am Land” (Germany: “auf dem Land”) and “Ich habe es um 5 Euro gekauft” (Germany: “für 5 Euro”) for “I bought it for 5 euros”.
5. Months and dates. “Jänner” is the normal word in Austria, including in official letters and on forms.
Practise your German out loud with SipLingo, free to try on iPhone and Android:
Exams: ÖSD and integration exams
ÖSD (Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch) is the Austrian exam system, with exams from A1 to C2 and centres worldwide. According to ÖSD, its exams follow the pluricentric approach: texts and recordings can come from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, tasks are written in standard German, no dialect is tested, and in writing and speaking you can use the standard variety you learned. So “Fahrrad” and “Jänner” are both fine. ÖSD exams are modular: you can pass and retake individual modules, and certificates do not expire, although authorities often want one that is not older than 2 years.
For the speaking part, compare the formats in ÖSD vs Goethe speaking. For a wider comparison of certificates, see which German certificate is best.
One important detail if you are moving to Austria on a residence permit: the Austrian Integration Agreement (Integrationsvereinbarung) asks for A2 in Module 1 and B1 in Module 2. According to the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) as of October 2026, the integration exam (Integrationsprüfung) of the ÖIF is the main accepted language exam for these modules, and an ÖSD B1 only counts for Module 2 if it was taken before 30 May 2021. Check the ÖIF page before you book any exam for a permit.
What to learn if you are moving to Austria
You do not need a separate “Austrian German course”. Use this order:
| Step | When | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | From day 1 | Learn standard German from any course or app |
| 2 | 2–4 weeks before moving | Learn the 30 words in the table above and the greetings |
| 3 | First month in Austria | Listen to Austrian radio or ORF news 10 minutes a day |
| 4 | Ongoing | Notice which words your colleagues use and copy them |
| 5 | If needed | Check which exam your permit, employer or university accepts (ÖIF, ÖSD or other) |
The speaking skill matters more than the variety. If you can describe a problem, make an appointment and talk with a colleague in standard German, Austrians will understand you, whatever words you use. SipLingo (our app) helps with that part: you hold spoken conversations with an AI partner in everyday situations such as the doctor, renting a flat or work, and get instant corrections of grammar, word order and vocabulary in your own language. It teaches standard German, not Austrian dialect, so add Austrian radio and local words alongside it. You can try it here.
Mini dialogue: at a Viennese market
Verkäuferin: Grüß Gott! Was darf’s sein?
(Hello! What would you like?)
Sie: Grüß Gott. Ein Kilo Erdäpfel und ein halbes Kilo Paradeiser, bitte.
(Hello. A kilo of potatoes and half a kilo of tomatoes, please.)
Verkäuferin: Gern. Brauchen Sie ein Sackerl?
(Sure. Do you need a bag?)
Sie: Nein, danke, ich habe eine Tasche dabei. Haben Sie auch Marillen?
(No, thanks, I have a bag with me. Do you also have apricots?)
Verkäuferin: Heuer leider nicht mehr, die Saison ist vorbei.
(Unfortunately not any more this year, the season is over.)
Sie: Schade. Dann zahle ich, bitte.
(Too bad. Then I will pay, please.)
Official sources
For the official details and the latest updates, see:
- Goethe-Institut: Goethe/ÖSD B1 word list (PDF) – ~2,400 B1 words by topic and A–Z, with D/A/CH regional variants marked
- Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF): ÖIF German exam formats (Austria, German) – A1–C1 ÖIF exams for residence, Integration Agreement and citizenship
Frequently asked questions
Is Austrian German different from German?
It is the same language with its own standard variety: different everyday words, greetings, pronunciation and a few grammar habits. Both are correct Standard German.
Can Austrians understand Germans?
Yes, without problems. Austrians grow up with standard German in school, media and writing, and they hear German from Germany on TV and online every day.
Should I learn Austrian German?
Learn standard German first, then add the most common Austrian words and greetings before you move. A separate course is not necessary.
How do you say hello in Austria?
“Grüß Gott” is the polite greeting in shops and offices, and “Servus” is the informal hello and goodbye among friends and colleagues. “Guten Tag” and “Hallo” also work.
What is ÖSD?
ÖSD (Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch) is the Austrian system of German exams from A1 to C2, offered worldwide. It accepts German, Austrian and Swiss standard German in the exam.
Practise the German you will speak in Vienna, Graz or Salzburg with spoken conversations in SipLingo.
