# North Frisian language

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Minority language of Germany

You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding articles in Western Frisian and Northern Frisian. (February 2025) Click [show] for important translation instructions. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must follow the LLM translation guideline, revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing Western Frisian Wikipedia article at [[:fy:Noardfrysk]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template {{Translated|fy|Noardfrysk}} to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.

North Frisian Sylt: Nuurđfriisk Föhr/Amrum: nuurdfresk Heligoland: Noorfriisk Wiedingharde/Halligen: nordfreesk Mooring: nordfrasch Karrharde: nordfräisch Central Goesharde: noordfreesch Bilingual sign in German and North Frisian, respectively, in Husum, Germany Native to Germany Region North Frisia Ethnicity North Frisians Native speakers (10,000 cited 1976)[1] Language family Indo-European Germanic West Germanic North Sea Germanic Anglo-Frisian? Frisian North Frisian Writing system Latin Official status Official language in Germany Schleswig-Holstein Regulated by Nordfriisk Instituut Language codes ISO 639-2 frr ISO 639-3 frr Glottolog nort2626 ELP Northern Frisian Linguasphere 52-ACA-e (varieties: 52-ACA-eaa to -eak & extinct -eba & -ebb) North Frisian dialects North Frisian is classified as Severely Endangered by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.

Linguistic map of Schleswig in the mid-19th century

**North Frisian** is a [minority language](/source/Minority_language) of [Germany](/source/Germany), spoken by about 10,000 people in [North Frisia](/source/North_Frisia).[2] The language is part of the larger group of the [West Germanic](/source/West_Germanic_languages) [Frisian languages](/source/Frisian_languages). The language comprises 10 dialects which are themselves divided into an insular and a mainland group.

North Frisian is closely related to the [Saterland Frisian language](/source/Saterland_Frisian_language) of Northwest Germany and [West Frisian](/source/West_Frisian_language) which is spoken in the Netherlands.

North Frisian is relict in Denmark.[3]

## Classification

The closest relatives of North Frisian are the two other Frisian languages, the [Saterland Frisian](/source/Saterland_Frisian_language) of north-western [Lower Saxony](/source/Lower_Saxony), Germany, and the [West Frisian language](/source/West_Frisian_language) spoken in the northern [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands). Together, the three sub-groups form the group of Frisian languages.

[English](/source/English_language) is also closely related to Frisian. The two are classified in a common [Anglo-Frisian](/source/Anglo-Frisian_languages) group,[*[dubious](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Accuracy_dispute#Disputed_statement) – [discuss](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:North_Frisian_language#Dubious)*] which is grouped among the [Ingvaeonic languages](/source/Ingvaeonic_languages), together with [Low German](/source/Low_German). The related Low German has developed differently since [Old Saxon](/source/Old_Saxon) times and has lost many Ingvaeonic characteristics.[4]

## Dialects

### Overview

The North Frisian dialects can be grouped into two main dialectal divisions: mainland and insular dialects. Altogether, both groups have 10 dialects.[5] Since the beginning of Frisian linguistic studies in the 19th century, the following ten dialects have typically been noted as distinct:

#### Insular North Frisian

- [Sylt Frisian](/source/Sylt_Frisian) (Söl'ring)

- Föhr-Amrum Frisian ([Fering](/source/F%C3%B6hr_Frisian), [Öömrang](/source/Amrum_Frisian))

- [Heligolandic Frisian](/source/Heligolandic_Frisian) (Halunder)

#### Mainland North Frisian

- [Wiedingharde Frisian](/source/Wiedingharde_Frisian) (Wiringhiirder)

- [Bökingharde Frisian](/source/B%C3%B6kingharde_Frisian) (Mooringer)

- [Karrharde Frisian](/source/Karrharde_Frisian) (Karrharder)

- [Goesharde Frisian](/source/Goesharde_Frisian) (Gooshirder) - Northern Goesharde Frisian (incl. Hoorninger Fräisch & Hoolmer Freesch) - Central Goesharde Frisian - Southern Goesharde Frisian (extinct since early 1980s)

- [Halligen Frisian](/source/Halligen_Frisian) (Halifreesk)

The mainland and insular dialects clearly differ from each other because they were shaped by Frisian immigrants in different centuries. The islands of [Sylt](/source/Sylt), [Föhr](/source/F%C3%B6hr) and [Amrum](/source/Amrum) were colonised in around AD 800, and the mainland was settled by Frisians in AD 1100.

There are also various influences of neighbouring languages on the dialects. On Sylt, Föhr and Amrum and in parts of the northern mainland such as Wiedingharde, there is a strong [Danish](/source/Danish_language) ([South Jutlandic](/source/South_Jutlandic)) influence, but on [Heligoland](/source/Heligoland) and the rest of mainland North Frisia, the Low German influence is predominant. Moreover, there has historically been little exchange between the dialects and so hardly any [lingua franca](/source/Lingua_franca) could develop and there was no cultural centre in North Frisia for which the dialect could have had a leading role.

### Samples

The sentence displayed below in many variants reads, "'Shine, old moon, shine!', cried Häwelmann, but the moon was nowhere to be seen and the stars neither; they had all already gone to bed" (based on [Theodor Storm](/source/Theodor_Storm)'s *Der kleine Häwelmann*).[6]

**Insular**

[Söl'ring](/source/S%C3%B6l'ring) (dialect of [Sylt](/source/Sylt))

- *"Ljucht, ual Muun, ljucht!" skriilt Häwelmann, man di Muun wiar narigen tö sen en uk di Stiaren ek; ja wiar al altermaal tö Bēr gingen.*

[Fering](/source/Fering)-[Öömrang](/source/%C3%96%C3%B6mrang) (dialect of [Föhr](/source/F%C3%B6hr) and [Amrum](/source/Amrum))

- *"Locht, ual muun, locht!" rep Heewelmaan, man a muun wiar nochhuaren tu sen an a stäären uk ei; jo wiar al altermaal tu baad gingen.*

[Heligolandic](/source/Heligolandic) (dialect of [Helgoland](/source/Helgoland))

- *"Lochte, ool Muun, lochte!" rüp Heäwelman, oawers de Muun wear naarni tu sin'n en uk de Steern ni; dja wear al allemoal tu Baad gingen.*

**Mainland**

[Northern Goesharde Frisian](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Northern_Goesharde_Frisian&action=edit&redlink=1), Hoorninger Fräisch variety of [Langenhorn](/source/Langenhorn_(Nordfriesland))

- *"Jocht, uule moune, jocht!" biilked Hääwelmoon, ors e moune waas närngs to schüns än da steere ok ai; ja weern al aal to beede gingen.*

[Wiedingharde Frisian](/source/Wiedingharde_Frisian_dialect)

- *"Ljocht, uuile moone, ljocht!" biilked Hääwelmuon, män e moone was näärgen to schüns än uk e steere ai; jä würn al altomoale to beerd gingen.*

[Halligen Frisian](/source/Halligen_Frisian) (although it is spoken on the [Halligen](/source/Halligen) islands, it is linguistically grouped with the mainland dialects)

- *"Jaacht, uale mööne, jaacht!" bölked Hääwelmoon, man de mööne woas näärngs to siinen än de steere uk ee; jä weern al altomaole to beed giangen.*

[Mooring](/source/Mooring_dialect_(North_Frisian)) (dialect of [Bökingharde](/source/B%C3%B6kingharde))

- *"Jucht, üülje moune, jucht!" biiljked Hääwelmoon, ouers e moune wus nargne tu schüns än e stääre uk ai; ja wjarn ål åltumååle tu beed lim.*

Despite the differences between the dialects, the Fering and Öömrang are highly similar; in this example nearly identical.

Another source that highlights the differences between all of the main dialects of North Frisian (even extinct ones) are [translations of the Lord's Prayer.](https://archive.org/details/lords-prayer-northfrisian)

The following table further demonstrates the similarities and differences between the various dialects.[7]

Dialect Father Mother Sister Brother Söl'ring Faađer Mooter Sester Bröđer Fering aatj mam saster bruler Öömrang bruder Halligen baabe mäm soster bröör Halunder Foor Mem Söster Bruur Wiedingharder Frisian tääte määm broor Karrharde Frisian mäm brauder Bökingharde Frisian taatje mam brouder Central Goesharde Frisian ate mäm broor Southern Goesharder Frisian fåår, fååðer brööðer Northern Goesharder Frisian fååje soster brår

### Extinct dialects

The [Eiderstedt Frisian](/source/Eiderstedt_Frisian) on the [Eiderstedt](/source/Eiderstedt) peninsula were abandoned in favour of Low German during the 17th and 18th centuries. In contrast to the northern [hundreds](/source/Hundred_(county_subdivision)), Eiderstedt was economically strong and wealthy and was oriented towards the southern, Low German parts of Schleswig-Holstein. Moreover, there was a strong Dutch immigration during the 16th century.[8]

A similar situation was to be found on the island of [Strand](/source/Strand_(island)), which was destroyed during the [Burchardi flood](/source/Burchardi_flood). The population of the eastern, remaining part of Strand, the modern [Nordstrand](/source/Nordstrand%2C_Germany), did not succeed in rebuilding the dikes on their own. Therefore, many Frisian speaking people left their homeland on Strand or were otherwise not able to maintain their native language against mostly Dutch-speaking immigrants. On [Pellworm](/source/Pellworm), the western remainder of Strand, the repair of the dikes was quickly accomplished and so the Frisian language was still spoken in the 18th century, until it also vanished due to changes in population structure. The old [Strand Frisian](/source/Strand_Frisian) was presumably closest to Halligen Frisian.

Likewise close to Halligen Frisian was the Wyk Frisian that used to be spoken in [Wyk auf Föhr](/source/Wyk_auf_F%C3%B6hr) until the town completely shifted to Low German. The Wyk dialect is thought to have developed from the dialects of immigrants from the Halligen and Strand island.

The dialect that most recently died out is Southern Goesharde Frisian which became extinct with the death of its last speaker in the early 1980s. Other mainland dialects are also facing extinction.

North of the German-Danish border North Frisian was spoken only in some marsh-farms, located directly at the border.[9]

## Phonology

### Consonants

Labial Alveolar Post- alveolar Dorsal Glottal plain pal. Stop voiceless p t tʲ k voiced b d dʲ ɡ Fricative voiceless f s ʃ x h voiced v z Nasal m n nʲ ŋ Trill r Approximant l lʲ j

- The Föhr (Weesdring) dialect contrasts dental /[t̪](/source/Voiceless_dental_plosive), [d̪](/source/Voiced_dental_plosive), [s̪](/source/Voiceless_dental_sibilant_fricative), [z̪](/source/Voiced_dental_sibilant_fricative), [n̪](/source/Voiced_dental_nasal), [l̪](/source/Voiced_dental_lateral_approximant)/ with alveolar /[t](/source/Voiceless_alveolar_plosive), [d](/source/Voiced_alveolar_plosive), [s](/source/Voiceless_alveolar_fricative), [z](/source/Voiced_alveolar_fricative), [n](/source/Voiced_alveolar_nasal), [l](/source/Voiced_alveolar_lateral_approximant)/.

- /[z](/source/Voiced_alveolar_fricative)/ is replaced with a non-sibilant sound /[ð](/source/Voiced_dental_fricative)/ in the Sylt dialect.

- The alveolar trill /[r](/source/Voiced_alveolar_trill)/ is replaced with the uvular /[ʀ](/source/Voiced_uvular_trill)/ in the Bökingharde (Mooring) dialect.

### Vowels

Front Central Back unrounded rounded short long short long short long Close i iː yː uː Near-close ɪ ʏ ʊ Close-mid e eː øː ə oː Open-mid ɛ ɛː œ œː ɔ ɔː Open aː a ɒː

Diphthongs Front Back Close ia ua, ui Mid øi ou ɛi œi ɔi, ɔˑi Open ai, aˑi au, ɒːi

- One triphthong sound /uai/ only occurs in the Föhr dialect.

- /ia/ and /ua/ do not occur in the Bökingharde (mainland) dialect.

- /øi/ and /ɒːi/ only occur in the Föhr dialect.

- /aˑi/, /œi/, /ɔˑi/, and /ou/ only occur in the Bökingharde dialect.[10]

Despite the strong differences among the North Frisian dialects, there are still some traits of phonology that are more or less common to all dialects. Among them is the lowering from [[ɪ](/source/Near-close_near-front_unrounded_vowel)] to [[a](/source/Open_front_unrounded_vowel)], which is mostly complete in the central dialects but is only at the stage [[ɛ](/source/Open-mid_front_unrounded_vowel)] or [[eː](/source/Close-mid_front_unrounded_vowel)] in the periphery. For example, the word "fish" translates to Mooring *fasch* and Fering-Öömrang *fask* but Söl'ring *fesk* (cf. Low German: *Fisch/Fisk*, [Danish](/source/Danish_language): *fisk*, German: *Fisch*, [Dutch](/source/Dutch_language): *vis*).

The distribution of the [lenition](/source/Lenition) of the unvoiced [plosives](/source/Plosive) *p*, *t* and *k* is similar as they have become voiced plosives and partially even developed to [fricatives](/source/Fricatives) in the central dialects. That can be demonstrated from the [verb](/source/Verb) "to know": Mooring *waase*, Fering-Öömrang *wed*, Sölring *weet*, Halunder *wet* (cf. West Frisian *witte*, Low German *weten*, German *wissen*).

The North Frisian dialects differ from modern [Standard German](/source/Standard_German) by a more diverse system of [diphthongs](/source/Diphthong) and consonants. All of the dialects have an additional line of [palatalizations](/source/Palatalization_(sound_change)), which is uncommon for a Germanic language. Until recently, an additional number of dental consonants contrasted phonemically with their alveolar counterparts in the [dialect of Föhr](/source/Fering). In general, the insular dialects feature a relatively complicated consonantal system, but the mainland dialects have more diverse vowels.

Recently, the phonological system of the North Frisian dialects has been strongly influenced by Standard German and is slowly adapting to its system.[10][*[specify](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources)*]

## Current situation

Officially, the number of North Frisian speakers ranges from 8,000 to 10,000[2] but linguists propose significantly lower numbers. In 2007, Århammar estimated a total of 5,000 speakers inside and 1,500 to 2,000 speakers outside North Frisia proper.[5] Exact surveys do not exist.

North Frisian is an endangered language, as in most places, children no longer learn it. In UNESCO's *[Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger](/source/Atlas_of_the_World's_Languages_in_Danger)*, North Frisian is classified as "severely endangered".[11] Exceptions are a few villages on the islands of [Föhr](/source/F%C3%B6hr) and [Amrum](/source/Amrum) and the [Risum-Lindholm](/source/Risum-Lindholm) area. Especially in the western parts of Föhr, the language community is still relatively common.[5] The number of speakers on Föhr and Amrum alone is estimated to around 3,500. The other dialects are, in fact, seriously endangered, like Karrharde Frisian, Central Goesharde and Halligen Frisian.

The elementary and grammar school on Amrum is called *Öömrang Skuul* and, among other subjects, focuses on teaching the local dialect. Fering is also taught in schools on Föhr and the *Risum Skole/Risem Schölj* in [Risum-Lindholm](/source/Risum-Lindholm) on the mainland is a combined Danish-North Frisian elementary school.

All speakers of North Frisian are at least bilingual (North Frisian and [German](/source/Standard_German)). Many are trilingual (North Frisian, German and [Low German](/source/Low_German)) and, especially along the Danish border, quadrilingualism used to be widespread (North Frisian, Standard German, Low German and [South Jutlandic](/source/South_Jutlandic)).

In Schleswig-Holstein, North Frisian is protected by the [European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages](/source/European_Charter_for_Regional_or_Minority_Languages) as a minority language. On 24 December 2004 a state law became effective in Schleswig-Holstein that recognises the North Frisian language for official use in the [Nordfriesland](/source/Nordfriesland) district and on [Heligoland](/source/Heligoland).[12]

In 2025, as a recent initiative to document and mediate dialects, the AI-based online translator ‘halunder.ai’ for Heligoland Frisian (Halunder) was developed by Jakob Martens.

## See also

- [Frisian languages](/source/Frisian_languages)

- [North Frisia](/source/North_Frisia)

- [Frisians](/source/Frisians)

- [Frisian Islands](/source/Frisian_Islands)

## References

**General references**

- Walker, Alastair G.H.; Ommo Wilts (2001). "Die nordfriesischen Mundarten". In Horst H. Munske (ed.). *Handbuch des Friesischen – Handbook of Frisian Studies* (in German and English). Tübingen: Niemeyer. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-484-73048-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-484-73048-X).

- Hüttenrauch, Tanno; Wehar, Michael (2022). [*An Online Dictionary for Dialects of North Frisian*](http://www.lrec-conf.org/proceedings/lrec2022/workshops/EURALI/pdf/2022.eurali-1.15.pdf) (PDF). Workshop on Resources and Technologies for Indigenous, Endangered and Lesser-resourced Languages in Eurasia (EURALI) @ LREC2022. European Language Resources Association (ELRA). pp. 88–89.

**Citations**

1. **[^](#cite_ref-e18_1-0)** [North Frisian](https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/frr/) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sh_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sh_2-1) ["Minderheiten in Schleswig-Holstein – Friesen"](http://www.schleswig-holstein.de/DE/Fachinhalte/M/minderheiten/minderheiten_friesen.html) (in German). Government of Schleswig-Holstein. Retrieved 4 April 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Siewertsen, Benny (2004). *Friserne - vore glemte forfædre* (in Danish). Slot. p. 86.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Nielsen, Hans Frede (2001). "Frisian and the Grouping of the Older Germanic Languages". In Horst H. Munske (ed.). *Handbuch des Friesischen – Handbook of Frisian Studies* (in German and English). Tübingen: Niemeyer. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [3-484-73048-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/3-484-73048-X).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-arhammar_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-arhammar_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-arhammar_5-2) Århammar, Nils (2007). Munske, Horst H. (ed.). ["Das Nordfriesische, eine bedrohte Minderheitensprache in zehn Dialekten: eine Bestandsaufnahme"](http://www.opus.ub.uni-erlangen.de/opus/volltexte/2008/952/pdf/IZD_Arhammar_Das_Nordfriesische.pdf) (PDF). *Sterben die Dialekte aus? Vorträge am Interdisziplinären Zentrum für Dialektforschung an der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg* (in German). University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Die Nordfriesen und ihre Sprache"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927154958/http://www.nordfriiskinstituut.de/karte.html) (in German). Nordfriisk Instituut. Archived from [the original](http://www.nordfriiskinstituut.de/karte.html) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2011. Click on the map to access the regional dialects.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** After Walker and Wilts, p. 286

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Steensen, Thomas (2010). ["Holländer"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150118061709/http://www.geschichte-s-h.de/vonabisz/hollaender.htm). *Geschichte in Schleswig-Holstein* (in German). Gesellschaft für Schleswig-Holsteinische Geschichte. Archived from [the original](http://www.geschichte-s-h.de/vonabisz/hollaender.htm) on 18 January 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Knottnerus, Otto S. (2008). "De vergeten Friezen - Mislukt pamflet van Benny Siewertsen over een boeiend thema". *De Vrije Fries* (in Dutch). Leeuwarden: Fryske Akademy. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-6171-0165](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-6171-0165). in reply to the pamphlet Siewertsen, Benny (2004). *Friserne – vore glemte forfædre* (in Danish). Lyngby: Slot Forlag. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-87-90476-08-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-87-90476-08-3).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Walker_and_Wilts_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Walker_and_Wilts_10-1) Walker and Wilts

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Moseley, Christopher, ed. (2010). ["North Frisian"](http://www.unesco.org/languages-atlas/en/atlasmap.html). *Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger* (3rd ed.). Paris: [UNESCO](/source/UNESCO) Publishing.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Gesetz zur Förderung des Friesischen im öffentlichen Raum"](https://de.wikisource.org/wiki/Friesisch-Gesetz). *Wikisource* (in German).

## External links

***[North Frisian edition](https://frr.wikipedia.org/wiki/)*** of [Wikipedia](/source/Wikipedia), the free encyclopedia

- [Nordfriisk Instituut (North Frisian Institute)](http://www.nordfriiskinstituut.de) homepage (mainly (in German))

- [Friisk.org](https://friisk.org) An online dictionary containing most dialects of North Frisian (mainly (in German))

- [Halunder.ai](https://halunder.ai) An online translator between German and Halunder

- [Friisk Foriining (Frisian Society)](https://web.archive.org/web/20070304050019/http://friiske.de/my.php?page=2&language=ie) homepage (in English)

- [Friisk Foriining](https://web.archive.org/web/20070228081616/http://friiske.de/my.php?page=2&language=nf) (in North Frisian)

v t e Frisian languages Old Frisian Middle Frisian West Frisian Hindeloopens Schiermonnikoogs Westlauwers– Terschellings Terschellings West Lauwers Frisian Clay Frisian Wood Frisian Westereendersk East Frisian Ems Saterland Upgant Weser Wangerooge Wursten Harlingerland North Frisian Mainland Bökingharde (Mooring) Goesharde Karrharde Strand Halligen Wiedingharde Insular Eiderstedt Föhr–Amrum Heligolandic Sylt Substratum dialects Amelands East Frisian Low Saxon Gronings Midslands Stadsfries dialects Bildts West Frisian Dutch Italics indicate extinct languages

v t e Languages of Germany Official language (German) Standard High German Regional/minority languages Recognized Danish Frisian North Saterland Low German Romani Sorbian Upper Sorbian language Lower Sorbian language Unrecognized Central German Ripuarian Moselle Franconian Upper Saxon Upper German Alemannic Swabian Bavarian Low Franconian Limburgish German Sign Language

v t e Germanic languages According to contemporary philology West Anglo-Frisian Anglic English dialects Old English Middle English Modern English Early Modern English Irish Middle English Fingallian Kildare Yola Scots Early Scots Middle Scots Shetland dialect Frisian Historical forms Old Frisian Middle Frisian East Frisian Ems Saterland Frisian Upgant Frisian Weser Wangerooge Frisian Wursten Frisian Harlingerland Frisian North Frisian Insular Eiderstedt Föhr–Amrum Föhr Amrum Heligolandic Sylt Mainland Bökingharde Mooring Halligen Goesharde Northern Central Southern Karrharde Strand Wiedingharde West Frisian Hindeloopen Schiermonnikoog Westlauwers–Terschellings Mainland West Frisian Clay Frisian Wood Frisian Westereendersk Terschelling Low German Historical forms Old Saxon Middle Low German West Low German Dutch Low Saxon Stellingwarfs Tweants Gronings Drèents Gelders-Overijssels Achterhooks Sallaans Urkers Veluws Northern Low Saxon East Frisian Low Saxon Gronings Hamburg Holsteinisch Oldenburgisch Bremian Schleswigsch Eastphalian Westphalian East Low German Mecklenburgisch-Vorpommersch Brandenburgisch Central Pomeranian East Pomeranian Low Prussian Plautdietsch / Mennonite Low German Low Franconian Historical forms Frankish Old Dutch Middle Dutch Standard variants Dutch Afrikaans (Kaaps) West Low Franconian Central Dutch Hollandic West Flemish French Flemish Zeelandic East Flemish Brabantian Kleverlandish Surinamese Dutch Jersey Dutch Mohawk Dutch Stadsfries/Bildts/Amelands/Midslands East Low Franconian Limburgish Cover groups Bergish Meuse-Rhenish High German (German) Historical forms Old High German Middle High German New High German Early New High German Standard German German Standard German Austrian Standard German Swiss Standard German Non-standard variants and creoles Namibian German Namibian Black German Berlinerisch Unserdeutsch Barossa German Rotwelsch Lotegorisch Yenish Yiddish Eastern Western Scots Yiddish Klezmer-loshn Lachoudisch Central German West Central German Central Franconian Ripuarian Colognian Southeast Limburgish Moselle Franconian Luxembourgish Transylvanian Saxon Hunsrückisch Hunsrik Rhine Franconian Lorraine Franconian Palatine Volga German Pennsylvania Dutch Hessian Central Hessian Amana German East Central German Thuringian Upper Saxon Erzgebirgisch Lusatian Silesian German High Prussian Wymysorys Halcnovian Upper German Alemannic in the broad sense Low Alemannic Alsatian Coloniero High Alemannic Swiss German Highest Alemannic Walser German Swabian Bavarian Northern Bavarian Central Bavarian Viennese German Southern Bavarian South Tyrolean Cimbrian Mòcheno Hutterite German Gottscheerish South Franconian East Franconian Vogtlandian Langobardic North and East North Historical forms Proto-Norse Old Norse Old West Norse Old East Norse Old Gutnish West Norwegian Bergensk Kebabnorsk Sognamål Trøndersk Valdris Vestlandsk Vikværsk Bokmål (written) Nynorsk (written) Old Norwegian Middle Norwegian Faroese Icelandic Old Icelandic Middle Icelandic Greenlandic Norse Norn Shetland dialect East Swedish Swedish dialects Rinkebysvenska Danish Danish dialects Insular Danish Jutlandic South Jutlandic East Danish Bornholmsk Scanian (historically) Southern Schleswig Danish Gøtudanskt Perkerdansk Old Danish Middle Danish Dalecarlian Elfdalian Gutnish Mainland Gutnish Fårö Gutnish East Gothic Crimean Gothic Ostrogoth Visigoth Gepid ? Burgundian Vandalic Herulian ? Skirian ? Philology Language subgroups North East West Elbe (Irminonic) Weser-Rhine (Istvaeonic) North Sea (Ingvaeonic) Northwest Gotho-Nordic South Reconstructed Proto-Germanic Grammar Ancient Belgian language Diachronic features Grimm's law Verner's law Holtzmann's law Sievers's law Kluge's law Germanic substrate hypothesis West Germanic gemination High German consonant shift Germanic a-mutation Germanic umlaut Germanic spirant law Ingvaeonic nasal spirant law Great Vowel Shift Synchronic features Germanic verb Germanic strong verb Germanic weak verb Preterite-present verb Grammatischer Wechsel Indo-European ablaut Italics indicate extinct languages Languages between parentheses are varieties of the language on their left.

Authority control databases International GND National United States France BnF data Israel Other Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [North Frisian language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Frisian_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Frisian_language?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.