Low German
English
Alternative forms
- Low-German
Etymology
Because northern Germany (Low Germany), where it is spoken, is lower in elevation than southern Germany.
Noun
- A West Germanic language spoken in Low (i.e. Northern) Germany and north-eastern parts of the Netherlands, and formerly also in large parts of eastern and north-eastern Europe, which developed out of Middle Low German from Old Saxon; often treated as a dialect group of German (or Dutch) for convenience, but widely recognized as a separate language.
- (linguistics) Any of a number of West Germanic languages, primarily spoken in northern Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, that did not undergo the High German consonant shift; the group thereof.
- (nonstandard) Any of many German dialects that are not the official standard although they are usually referred to only to as "Platt".
Synonyms
- (West Germanic language, descended from Old Saxon): Plattdeutsch, Low Saxon, Nether-Saxon; New Low German, New Low Saxon, New Saxon (as opposed to Middle Low German or Middle Saxon and Old Low German or Old Saxon)
Antonyms
- (West Germanic languages that are not High German): High Dutch, High German (includes numerous Upper German and Middle German/Central German dialects from which standard High German mainly developed)
Hyponyms
- (West Germanic language, descended from Old Saxon): Dutch Low Saxon (variety or varieties in the Netherlands); Low Prussian; Mennonite Low German, Plautdietsch (variety spoken in America, etc.)
Derived terms
- East Low German (German: Ostniederdeutsch)
- West Low German (German: Westniederdeutsch)
Translations
West Germanic language
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See also
- Ingvaeonic
- Low Franconian
- Low Germany
- North Sea Germanic
Further reading
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