hochdeutsch

Hochdeutsch, or Standard German, is the standardized variety of the German language used in education, media, government, and other formal contexts in the German-speaking world. It serves as the common written and formal spoken form across Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, with regional differences in vocabulary and pronunciation.

Linguistically, Hochdeutsch refers to the High German dialects (as opposed to Low German, Plattdeutsch). The High German varieties underwent the High German consonant shift, which set them apart from other West Germanic languages. The standard form developed from Central and Upper German dialects and was progressively codified through literature and education.

Historically, standardization was influenced by Early New High German, the Luther Bible (16th century) and subsequent grammars and dictionaries. In modern times, orthography reforms, including those of the late 20th century, harmonized spelling and usage across the German-speaking world.

Geographically, Hochdeutsch is taught in schools and used in official communications in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and other German-speaking communities. Swiss Standard German, Austrian Standard German and the German standard form share a core, but differ in vocabulary and pronunciation. Dialects remain common in everyday speech and vary by region; Hochdeutsch is typically used for formal occasions and cross-regional communication.

Hochdeutsch functions as the reference form of the language in education, media and government, while regional dialects coexist as strong markers of local identity. The term can also be used to denote the standardized form of German across German-speaking countries rather than a single uniform variety.