What Is the Bavarian Dialect in German

Who hasnt  heard of Bavaria? It is such a popular travel destination, offering everything from the fairy tale Neuschwannstein castle to the not-to-miss yearly Oktoberfest. As a tourist, Bavaria is fairly easy to explore and travel in, but as a German learner, not so if you want to really immerse in their culture. The barrier for any German learner or even Germans from other parts of Germany is  das baierische  Dialekt. True, Bavarians do speak Hochdeutsch as well since  it is taught in schools, but as the bavarian dialect  Ã‚  is the daily language  of choice among Bavarians,  you need to know some Bavarian in order to get by. But of course to complicate things further for the German language learner,  there are several bavarian dialects!  There are three main ones: northern bavarian (mainly spoken in upper Palatinate), central bavarian (spoken mostly along the main rivers  Isar  and  Danube, and  in upper Bavaria  including  Munich) and southern bavarian (mostly in Tyrol region). The Baierisch  that you hear on the bavarian tv channel is mostly the central bavarian dialect coming from Munich. There is hardly any bavarian literature out there.  Bavarian is considered to be a spoken language rather than a written one,  even though the bible was translated into Bavarian as well.   So how different is Bavarian from standard German? See if you can understand the following Bavarian tongue twister: Oa Zwetschgn im Batz dadatscht und oa im Batz dadatschte Zwetschgn gaabatn zwoa batzige dadatschte Zwetschgn und an batzign Zwetschgndatschi! Exactly! Now for something easier. Heres a silly  Bavarian poem: Da Jackl und sei Fackl Da Jackl, der Lackl,backts Fackl am Krogn,duads Fackl in a Sackl,mechts mim Hackl daschlogn. Aba as Fackl, so a Prackl,is koa Dackl im Frack,beißt an Jackl, den Lackl,durchs Sackl ins Gnack!                                                                           -  Barbara Lexa Better, nicht wahr? In standard German, the  poem would read as follows: Jakob, dieser Flegel,packt das Ferkel am Kragen,steckt das Ferkel in ein Sà ¤ckchen,mà ¶chte es mit der Axt erschlagen. Aber das Ferkel, so ein Ungetà ¼m,ist kein Dachshund mit Frack,beißt den Jakob, diesen Flegel,durch’s Sà ¤ckchen hindurch ins Genick.   And finally heres the English translation: Jakob, dieser Flegel,packt das Ferkel am Kragen,steckt das Ferkel in ein Sà ¤ckchen,mà ¶chte es mit der Axt erschlagen. Aber das Ferkel, so ein Ungetà ¼m,ist kein Dachshund mit Frack,beißt den Jakob, diesen Flegel,durch’s Sà ¤ckchen hindurch ins Genick. Hopefully, I havent discouraged you from visiting the Bavarian state, but please do not go there without learning   at least some common Bavarian phrases and words. Bavarians will be flattered that you have made the effort to learn a bit  of their language and you wont feel completely lost either when somebody addresses you   or uses some of the following phrases: To greet someone: Gruss GottWhen leaving: Pfiat eich! Until next time!Also very popular: Servus   This word can be used informally   either as hi or as goodbye with somebody with whom you are on familiar terms with. Sapperlot  »It is used to express surprise or enthusiasm in the same sort of way as more modern terms such as Alle Achtung! and Respekt! but it is also used in the same way as swear words to express frustration or outrage. These are just a few words and phrases. For more  Bavarian vocabulary and expressions, read here. There is one final point  about the bavarian dialect that I want that will gladden the heart of any German language learner:  The bavarian grammar is a little simpler from the standard German one:  Ã‚  only articles are declined,  PLUS, the simple past is hardly ever used! Thats one more reason to learn some Bavarian. Now go and visit Bavaria! Pfiat eich!