Learn How to Speak Pennsylvania Dutch - Learn Pennsylvania Dutch

Would you like to learn how to speak and understand Pennsylvania Dutch (German)?

You can find Deitsh language learning resources on this site like lesson guides, interactive worksheets, and even a Pennsylvania Dutch Words List (dictionary).

Pennsylvania Dutch (Deitsh)* is the language spoken by many Amish, Mennonites, and Deitshi-leit in the United States in their homes and communities.

* Pennsylvania Dutch, Deitsh, Pennsylvania German, PA German, and Penn German are all names for the same language.

Where to Start Learning Pennsylvania Dutch?

How do I get started learning Pennsylvania Dutch? The new Getting Started Guide will give you links to what you need to start learning Pennsylvania Dutch—based on your goals.

Bite-sized Pennsylvania Dutch language learning tips and grammar guides to help improve speaking and understanding Pennsylvania Dutch. Learn Pennsylvania Dutch by doing with interactive grammar worksheets.

The Words List is a Pennsylvania Dutch dictionary and glossary that contains modern and commonly used words and phrases as spoken by native speakers of Pennsylvania Dutch.

Meeting Parts NamesJanuary 19, 2024
The midweek meeting format was updated in January 2024. Here are the names of the sections and parts in Pennsylvania Dutch.
Time Words and Verb OrderDecember 17, 2023
When a sentence starts with a time word or phrase, the first verb jumps in front of the subject.
missa nett and daufa nettOctober 13, 2023
How do you say that something ‘must not’ be done in Pennsylvania Dutch? It’s ‘missa nett’…, right? Actually, it’s ‘daufa nett’. Why?
patient and geduldichJuly 11, 2023
When do you use patient and geduldich in Pennsylvania Dutch? When would you use patience and geduld?
Figures of Speech: Walking and RunningMay 9, 2023
Pennsylvania Dutch uses some figures of speech that involve walking and running that are similar to English — how are they different?
shpringa and shprengaApril 7, 2023
What’s the difference between the Deitsh words shpringa and shprenga? Both of the words shpringa and shprenga are verbs (action words) that mean to run. Shpringa verb = to run (as in movement, or to work and function) Shprenga verb = to run (as in to operate something else) shpringa Use shpringa when you’re talking… Read more: shpringa and shprenga