About the German Language

Germany boasts an incredible history, rich traditions and a quintessentially European culture. The German language holds the key to experiencing the true beauty of this fascinating country. The German language has over 100 million speakers making it the 11th most spoken language in the world, yet the second most used language on the internet.  Along with being one of the most interesting and enriching languages to learn, here are a few more interesting facts that you might not know about the German language.

• The German language is part of the Indo-European language family with a number of its words derived from Latin and Greek.
• German can be heard from Europe to South America and even in Africa.
• The United States of America nearly made German its official language in an attempt to cut all ties with England.
• The German language holds official status in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein, Italy, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
• The longest German word contains an astounding 63 letters – “Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz”
• Famous for its exceptionally long words the German language is also the topic of one of Mark Twain’s world renowned quotes: “Some German words are so long that they have a perspective."
• The German language has also been the base language for a number of languages including one of South Africa’s official languages – Afrikaans.

Allow yourself to fall in love with this interesting and dynamic language. While the thought of learning the language may seem daunting at first it is guaranteed to be a truly fulfilling experience that will leave you with a true appreciation for the German culture, cuisine and innovation. Soon you will be fluent in the German language and the true German experience will take you on a whole new journey as you experience the intrigue of the language and the culture of its speakers.