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Bavaria and Franconia:
About the language and dialects and a small Franconian dictionary
There are three German dialects spoken in Bavaria:
Austro-Bavarian (in Old Bavaria, i.e. in the South East and East Bavaria)
Swabian German (in the Bavarian part of Swabia, i.e. in the South West)
East Franconian German (in Franconia, i.e. in North Bavaria)
Most of the Bavarians speak with their Franconian, Bavarian or Swabian accent. Traditionally most of them are very proud of their marked dialects and as with traditions in general, cultivation of dialect and regional accent is not associated with backwardness, but is considered a strengthening of regional identity.
To give you an example of our dialects, we collected some Franconian terms and wrote them down in their Franconian spelling. We also wrote down the Standard German spelling (which you can find in a dictionary) and an English translation for you. Try to pronounce them and have fun. ;-)
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Franconian dialect |
Standard German |
English translation |
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Aamerla |
Eimer |
bucket |
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Abbord |
Abort/Toilette |
toilet |
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Abodeng |
Apotheke |
chemistīs shop |
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Acherla |
Eichhörnchen |
squirrel |
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Aung |
Augen |
eyes |
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Auwäierla! |
Oh weh! |
Oh dear! |
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Baam |
Baum |
tree |
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Badscherla |
Kinderhände |
kidīs hands |
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Badzer |
Fehler |
fault, mistake |
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Bäier |
Bier |
beer |
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Berchermaster |
Bürgermeister |
mayor |
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bisserla |
ein wenig |
a little bit |
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Blummer |
Blumen |
flowers |
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Briggng |
Brücke |
bridge |
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Broudworscht |
Bratwurst |
fried sausage |
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Bulldog |
Traktor |
tractor |
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Buggl |
Rücken |
back (of a person) |
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Bummala |
kleines, dickes Mädchen |
small, corpulent girl |
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Batzlki |
Kiefernzapfen |
pine cone |
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Daaml |
Dummkopf, Tölpel |
fool |
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Daschn |
Tasche |
bag |
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deier |
teuer |
expensive |
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derfriern |
erfrieren |
to freeze to death |
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Diecherla |
kleiner Topf |
small pot |
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Dogder |
Arzt |
doctor |
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Doldi |
Tölpel |
baboon |
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Dorschd |
Durst |
thirst |
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Drädlaszäicher |
Elektriker |
electrician |
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dreggerd |
schmutzig |
dirty |
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droll di! |
Hau ab! |
Hook it! |
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droom |
oben |
at the top |
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Drumm |
Stück |
piece |
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Duusl |
Glück |
luck |
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duusln |
ein Nickerchen machen |
to take a nap |
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Egg |
Eck |
corner |
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Eier |
Euer |
your (plural) |
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eikaafm |
einkaufen |
to go shopping |
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färchdn |
fürchten |
to fear |
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Fleedn |
Flöte |
flute |
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Fliecher |
Flugzeug |
plane (to fly) |
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Fohrrod |
Fahrrad |
bike |
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Fregger |
Gör |
brat |
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Freind |
Freund |
friend |
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Frooch |
Frage |
question |
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Funzl |
Lampe |
faint lamp |
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Gaafer |
Speichel |
saliva |
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Gamillndee |
Kamillentee |
chamomile tea |
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Gens(e)blimla |
Gänseblümchen |
daisy (flower) |
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glaa |
klein |
small |
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Goschn |
Mund |
mouth |
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Griffl |
Hände |
hands |
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Gschdell |
Körper |
body |
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Gschmarri |
dummes Gerede |
idle talk (stupid) |
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Gwerch, Gworschdl |
Chaos, Durcheinander |
chaos, disorder |
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haaß |
heiß |
hot |
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Halloodri |
Taugenichts |
good-for-nothing (person) |
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heier |
dieses Jahr |
this year |
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Herrgodsfräi |
frühmorgens |
early in the morning |
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Huuf |
Hof |
court, yard |
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Huusn |
Hose |
trousers |
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Kärng |
Kirche |
church |
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Kichn |
Küche |
kitchen |
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Koung |
Kuchen |
cake |
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Krischberla |
dünner Mensch |
slim person |
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Laabla |
Brötchen |
bread roll |
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Leem |
Leben |
life |
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Leid |
Leute |
people |
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Loodn |
Geschäft |
shop |
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Lumbers |
Spitzbube |
rascal |
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Maadla |
Mädchen |
girl |
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Middooch |
Mittag |
noon |
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Minchn |
München |
Munich |
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mordsdrumm |
sehr groß |
very big |
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Nämbärch |
Nürnberg |
Nuremberg |
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neileichdn |
im Übermaß trinken |
to drink too much |
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nocherdla |
dann |
later on |
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Oarsch |
Hinterteil |
buttocks |
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Obachd! |
Achtung! |
Attention! |
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Omd |
Abend |
evening |
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Quadradladschn |
sehr große Füße/Schuhe |
very big feet/shoes |
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riedn |
reden |
to talk |
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Ruuzfoner |
Taschentuch |
handkerchief |
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Sai |
Schweine |
pigs |
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schäi |
schön |
beautiful |
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schbeier |
sich übergeben |
to vomit |
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Schbrouch |
Sprache |
language |
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Schdaa |
Stein |
stone |
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Schdraß |
Straße |
street |
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Schdroufzeddl |
Strafzettel |
parking ticket |
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Schisser |
Angsthase |
a coward |
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Schlabbm |
(Haus-) Schuhe |
slippers, shoes |
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Schmarrn |
Unsinn |
nonsense |
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Schoggerlood |
Schokolade |
Chocolate |
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Sundooch |
Sonntag |
sunday |
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umernander |
umher |
about (adv.) |
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unneraans |
wir |
we |
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wamberd |
dick, fett |
fat (person) |
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Wärdschafd |
Gasthaus |
guesthouse |
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Weech |
Weg |
way |
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Woogn |
Auto |
car |
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Worschd |
Wurst |
sausage |
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|
zamm |
zusammen |
together |
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Zeenerla |
Zehner |
10-cent-piece |
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zerschd |
zurück |
back (adv.) |
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Zinggng |
große Nase |
big nose |
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Zooberschdla |
Zahnbürste |
toothbrush |
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Zwiggl |
Zweieurostück |
Two-Euro-piece |
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and much much more... |
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