Austrian Language Guide

Austrian German is a distinct variety of the German language — not a "dialect," but an equal standard language with its own grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Since joining the EU in 1995, 23 Austrian terms have even been recognized in EU law as official variants (the famous "Protocol No. 10").

The Most Important Word Differences

Grammar Differences: In Austria, the potato is feminine ("die Teller"... no: "das E-Mail" instead of "die E-Mail"), they say "bin gestanden" instead of "habe gestanden", "bin gesessen" instead of "habe gesessen". And the perfect tense is used much more frequently than the preterite — Austrians almost never say "ich ging", but "ich bin gegangen".

Viennese is more than a dialect — it is a way of life. The Viennese dialect has absorbed influences from Czech, Hungarian, Yiddish, and Italian, creating something entirely unique. Here are the most important expressions:

The Viennese dialect is characterized by vowel lengthening ("Wiiien"), swallowing of endings ("Hob i g'sogt" = "I said") and a distinctive melody — singing, slightly plaintive, never rushed. To hear it perfected: films by Josef Hader or the series "Vorstadtweiber".

The right greeting opens doors in Austria — and the wrong one closes them. Here are the most important formulas:

Greeting

Farewell

Politeness Formulas

• "Bitte" — in Austria, it has an extended meaning: It not only means "please," but also "here you go" (when handing over something) and "pardon?" (like "Excuse me, what did you say?")
• "Dankeschön" / "Vergelt's Gott" — "Vergelt's Gott" is the traditional, warmer form of thanks
• "Entschuldigung" / "Entschuldigen Sie" — polite, universally applicable
• "Geh bitte!" — does NOT mean "please go away," but expresses incredulous astonishment: "Oh come on!" / "You can't be serious!"

The coffeehouse is a ritual — and like any ritual, it has rules. Here are the most important terms to order with style:

Coffee Vocabulary

Important Additions

• "Mit Schlagobers" — with cream (do NOT say "Sahne!")
• "Verkehrt" — more milk than coffee
• "Bitte ein Glas Wasser dazu" — is usually served automatically, but sometimes forgotten in tourist cafes

Behavior in the Coffeehouse

• You may sit for hours — that's tradition, no one rushes you
• Newspapers are available — take one, it's part of the experience
• The Ober (waiter) comes to you — not the other way around. Call him discreetly with a hand gesture or eye contact
• Say "Zahlen, bitte" or "Die Rechnung, bitte" — "I would like to pay" sounds too direct
• Tip: Round up or add 5–10% to the next half/full euro

Austrian menus are full of terms that leave even native German speakers puzzled. Here's the translation aid:

Menu Decoder

Useful Phrases

• "Haben Sie einen Tisch frei?" — Reservation is recommended in upscale restaurants
• "Was empfehlen Sie?" — Waiters in Austria know the menu and are happy to advise
• "Die Rechnung, bitte" or "Zahlen, bitte"
• "Machen Sie [amount]" — when giving a tip
• "Getrennt, bitte" — each pays their part (less common than in Germany, but acceptable among friends)

Important vocabulary for everyday life on the go in Austria:

Transport & Orientation

Shopping

On the Mountain

Those who know these expressions will be rewarded with an approving smile from Austrians:

Everyday Expressions

Idioms

• "Die Lage ist hoffnungslos, aber nicht ernst" — the epitome of Austrian humor. Typical calmness in the face of chaos
• "Da beißt die Maus keinen Faden ab" — there's no changing that
• "A jeder is seines Glückes Schmied" — everyone is responsible for their own happiness
• "Schau ma mal, dann seh ma schon" — let's wait and see (typically Austrian: don't make a decision if it can be postponed)
• "In Österreich muss man erst sterben, um berühmt zu werden — aber dann lebt man lang" — Proverb about the treatment of artists
• "Nur ned hudeln!" — "Don't rush!" (the call for calmness)

Swear Words (for knowledge, not imitation)

• Piefke — German (slightly derogatory, but sometimes also teasingly friendly)
• Trottel — Fool (in Austria, much more common and less offensive than in Germany)
• Depp — similar to Trottel, slightly stronger
• Wappler — Good-for-nothing, failure (Viennese, crude)
• Gfrast — annoying person, nuisance