Swabian

Swabian refers to Swabia, a historic and cultural region in southwestern Germany, and to the people and language associated with it. The term covers those who identify as Swabians and the Swabian dialects of German. Swabia roughly corresponds to much of present-day Baden-Württemberg and parts of Bavaria, with a core area in the southern German plain and the Swabian Jura. The name derives from Schwaben, the German designation for the historic duchy and region with roots in the medieval period.

Swabian is a group of Alemannic dialects within the Upper German branch of the German language. Swabian dialects are spoken in everyday life alongside Standard German, particularly in local communities and rural areas. There is no single written Swabian standard; written communication typically uses Standard German. The dialects vary by locality and have distinctive phonological and lexical features when compared with Standard German.

Swabian culture includes regional cuisine such as Spätzle, Maultaschen, and Rostbraten, and a regional identity that is often associated with thrift. The region has contributed to German industry and education, with cities like Stuttgart and Ulm as centers of manufacturing and research. The Swabian identity also appears in diaspora communities, reflecting historical migration from Swabia.