PA Dutch Language

What is it that Amish speak?

American Amish speak a hybrid dialect that's known as “Pennsylvania Dutch.” This is a Germanic language with a lot of English mixed in, which is why you can sort of follow along as they speak. However, PA Dutch is a largely unwritten language. So, when the Amish write notes they use English. Here are some words that you should know:

Absatz - Stop
Aensere – Answer
Aenti – Aunt
Ares – Hours

Baenk – Bank
Bensel - Silly child
Blaeckbier – Blackberry
Brutzed – Pouted
Busser – Butter

Couw – Cow

Daat OR Dat - Dad
Dawdy - Grandpa
Deitsh - Pennsylvania German
Denke - Thank you
Doppick – Dumb
Duvach - Tobacco

Feddy - Fat

Gookamoedoe! - Look at that!
Gott – God
Gut (pronounced “goot”) - Good
Guten Nacht - Good Night

Haendla – Handle
Hurrieder – To hurry

Ich bin die... - My name is...

Jah - Yes Report Abuse

Laerning – Learning
Licht-shtaend – Lightstand

Mammi - Grandma

Naett - Not
Neh – No

Raessle – Wrestle

Shlofa – Sleep
Strubly – Disorderly
Strumpig - Small

Ve - We

Wasser - Water
Wie Bischt Du - How are you?
Wie bist du heit - It's nice to meet you.

Wunst – Once

Yaahr – Year