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LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Pfälzisch: A guide to the distinct dialect of Rhineland-Palatinate

The state of Rhineland-Palatinate is known for its beautiful landscapes, wine, and a dialect even Germans themselves struggle to understand. We break down the lingo you'll need to understand the natives.

Published: 7 April 2021 18:25 CEST
Pfälzisch: A guide to the distinct dialect of Rhineland-Palatinate
A stone in Rhineland-Palatinate with a citation in the local dialect reading, roughly translated: "Where the axis of the world gets oiled up, and we watch out that nothing happens to it". Photo: DPA

In Rhineland-Palatinate there is a secret. The entire population is, essentially, bilingual. 

Recently, concerns have been raised about the “dying out” of local dialects in Germany. Visitors to the Rhineland could be forgiven for thinking the dialect is nothing more than a slight twang to the Hochceutsch (standardised form of German we hear and read in the media) spoken by locals. 

READ ALSO: Grüß Gott, Moin, Hallo! The complete guide to regional dialects around Germany

Out of ear-shot, however, and at the end of the winding country roads, “Pfälzisch” is still very much alive and well. It’s such a rich and colourful dialect that it can even seem like its own language. 

Norre weil du dich domols
ääfach bei mer eighenkt hoscht,
wie mer hääm sin,
do bin ich, norre weche dir,
gschdolwert iwwer mei äächene Fieß:
Un mein Knechel umgeknixt, un wie! Ganz grie-gääl-bloo!

(Just because back then,
When you just put your arm in mine,
As we were walking home,
Just because of you, I
Tripped up over my own feet:
And twisted my ankle, and how! All green-yellow-blue!) 

In truth, it’s more of an amalgamation of languages. Because of the historically fluid borders between the Rhineland and what is still colloquially known as “Lothringen” (Lorraine), there is a strong French influence. Words like “Malöör” (bad luck) from the French “Malheur”, replace the more traditional German vocab like “Unglück”. 

Other words remind of the shared germanic root of English and German, pronouncing many of German T-sounds as D-sounds, like “Daa” (day) instead of “Tag”. 

With that in mind, The Local has collated some of the most essential Pfälzer vocabulary, to give you a taste and really stun the locals as an expat living in the Rhineland, or a visitor to the beautiful, but often underappreciated, province.  

The basics: 

Aarisch: sehr – very 

Ajo: das stimmt / ich stimme dir völlig zu – that’s true/ I completely agree 

Allahop: also gut/in Ordnung – alright then/ok then 

Allemo: Ja, natürlich

Babbele: reden – speaking

Bagaasch: Verwandtschaft – relatives, from French “baggage”

Drepsele: sanfter Regen/ light rain

Due: tun / machen – to do

Ebbes: etwas – something

Elwetrittcher: a local mythical creature, described as a chicken-like figure with antlers

Fraa: Frau – woman

Gäälrieb: Karotte – carrot

Gell?: nicht wahr? / stimmts? – right?

Geworschdel: Durcheinander –  a muddle

Gosch: Mund – mouth

Guggemo do: Guck mal – look at that

Grumbeere: Kartoffel – potato

Hä?: Entschuldigung, ich habe sie nicht verstanden, können sie das bitte nochmal sagen? – excuse me, could you repeat that, I didn’t hear you the first time

This video shows conversations in Hochdeutsch (standard German) vs. Pfälzisch.

Hamma: haben wir – we have

Hasche?: hast du? – do you have? 

Isch ebbes?: ist etwas? – is something up?

Isch kennt misch uffreesche – “Ich könnte mich aufregen” – ein Ausruf der Wut / “I could get so annoyed” an exclamation of anger/frustration 

Jesses!: Ausruf des Erstaunens/exclamation of disbelief/surprise

Mänsche?: meinst du? – Do you think?

Sellemols: damals – back then

Oh her doch uff!: Ach, hör doch auf damit! – Oh, stop that! 

Uffbasse!: Pass auf! – watch out! 

Colourful expressions: 

Rutsch mer doch de Buckel nunner! – “Slide down my back!” – as much as: Go to hell / I don’t care

Die sinn en Kopp un en Arsch – “They’re one head and one arse” – they’re just like one another / just as bad as each other

Fer en Klicker un en Knopp – “For a marble and a button” – bought affordably, a real bargain

Wer lang kräxt, lebt lang – “Those that complain the most, live the longest”

Was ma hat des hat ma – “What one has, one has”

Es hellt sich uff zum wolgebruch – “It’s brightening up for a cloudburst”

Er/sie hat de hinnere in zwe haenn genomm – “He/she took his/her backside in two hands” – he/she made a swift exit / ran away quickly

Der is am deiwel aus de Pan gehubst – “He/she must have jumped out of the devil’s pan” – they’re a bad apple

Do kennt ma helle Träne forze un senkrecht in die Luft scheisse – an expression of anger

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LEARNING GERMAN

‘Forget about bilingual Kitas’: Key tips for raising bilingual kids in Germany

With greater numbers of international workers choosing to settle in Germany and raise a family, the question of how to best raise bilingual children is often considered. 

Published: 25 April 2024 15:01 CEST
Updated: 28 April 2024 08:35 CEST
'Forget about bilingual Kitas': Key tips for raising bilingual kids in Germany

The Local asked its readers who have raised bilingual children in Germany to tell us how they managed to raise children who speak German in addition to their parent’s mother tongue. 

Trust the (school) system. 

One piece of advice was echoed by several readers: Trust the German education system to take care of teaching German through immersion. 

Siniša, 44, from Hesse, who speaks Croatian and English at home, told The Local: “Speak your native language at home. The school will ‘cover’ German and other languages.”

Steve, 55, who lives in Munich and speaks English and Spanish with his daughter agrees.

“Be consistent and raise your child in your native tongue. At a local school, they will learn German quickly,” he said.

Chris, 44, from Hamburg, who speaks English with his children, backed the idea of leaving kids’ schools to take charge of teaching them German.

“Get the kids into the German education system as early as possible and let them learn themselves from native speakers. As a bonus, they’ll pick it up quickly and not pick up a ‘non-German’ accent either,” he said.

Read more: ‘Multilingualism is an enrichment’ – The challenges of raisin bilingual kids in Germany

Readers also noted that even in the preschool stage, children can handle multiple languages. 

Julie, 41, who lives in Hamburg and speaks English and Italian at home, said: “Relax and go with the flow. Don’t get hung up on finding bilingual Kitas for toddlers if they already get significant exposure to the non-German language at home. Languages seem to develop in different spurts at different speeds.”

However, liaising with schools in Germany was noted as an essential skill. 

Kim, 46, based in Sindelfingen, with a family speaking both English and German, said: “It’s essential for at least one parent to understand German when children attend a German school. They can help explain language and cultural differences. They can also help with administrative matters and even homework.”

Maintain the mother tongue.

While readers were keen to encourage parents to trust the immersion process that German schools provide, they were also quick to advise a concerted effort to maintain speaking the mother tongue in and around the home. 

“For international parents, I think it’s very important that their children do not lose touch with their mother tongue, as it is a very special part of their identity,” said Prashanth, 42, who lives in Munich.

Anne-Marie, 52, from Frankfurt, who speaks ‘Singlish’ (Singaporean English) with her children, stated that it’s essential to be firm.

“Speak in your mother tongue to your kids from the day they are born. Be consequent about it, even in front of other people who do not speak your mother tongue,” she said.

Karl, 44, who lives in Celle and who speaks English and the indigenous American Ute language with his children, said getting family on board is important. 

“Communicate with all family members your decision, intentionally speak all of the languages, when possible provide translations so family members present are not excluded from conversations,” he said.

Charles, 40, from Berlin, even stated that speaking German at home may prove detrimental: “Don’t speak your own mediocre German with them. It may be hard to see them speaking another language as their more comfortable primary language than your own.”

Charles, who speaks English at home, added: “Find books and shows to share with them in your native language to continue the shared experience.”

Read More: What foreign parents should know about German schools

Just let it happen with the kids…

Sometimes, it seems, becoming bilingual takes care of itself. 

Paul, 40, from Munich, married to a German, said: “Our oldest just started speaking English one day around age 3. She had heard so much she could understand and just started talking. 

“The twins are starting to speak more and more English. It wasn’t a problem since she was fluent in both by age 4. I advise patience and not expecting perfection at a young age.

Crystal, 38, who lives in Nuremberg and speaks English at home, responded: “At first, my main concern was getting as much German into our lives as possible so my son would be ready for Grundschule. 

“Now I’m swinging the other way. My advice is to try to relax. There are always other things to worry about, and kids learn so much really quickly.”

…but also challenge yourself

Finally, respondents to The Locals’ survey repeated that raising bilingual children is something that requires a degree of effort – on the parent’s behalf. 

J.K, 40, who lives in Hanau and speaks English and Telugu at home, told The Local: “Language is very important for the kids to grow in a culture. 

“Parents should facilitate situations around the kid to better integrate locally. Parents (at least one) should be able to speak German at a level better than B1. 

“If not, supporting kids in their education is difficult, and this will hamper their chances of reaching a higher education level.”

Read More: Six surprising facts about Germany’s school system

Moreno, 40, who lives in Munich and speaks Portuguese with his children, was firm in his advice: “Don’t choose the easy way for you, parents. Don’t hide in your language community bubble. 

“If you intend to live in Germany for a long time, put your kids in German schools and get them in touch with the German community.

“If you don’t speak German like me, deal with it. But don’t transfer your problem to your kids.”

Have we missed any crucial advice for raising bilingual children in Germany? Tell us in the comments section below.

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