High German

American  

noun

1. the group of West Germanic languages that in a.d. c400–c500 underwent the second consonant shift described by Grimm's law. HG, H.G.

2. German.

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High German British  

noun

1.  HG.  the standard German language, historically developed from the form of West Germanic spoken in S Germany See also German Low German

2. any of the German dialects of S Germany, Austria, or Switzerland

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Etymology

Origin of High German

First recorded in 1700–10

Compare meaning

How does high-german compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• High German vs. Low German

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

High German

In Old Dutch there was "fader"; in Old Icelandic we find "faðir"; in Old High German, a precursor to modern German, it was "fater" – now "vater"; and, finally, in Old Danish, "fathær."

From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2022

She noted that while places like German Switzerland also practice diglossia, the use of two languages, the difference is that both Swiss German and High German are living, spoken languages.

From The New Yorker ● Apr. 10, 2017

Delve a little deeper and you also find the German term for “decoration,” from the Middle High German “smucken,” meaning “to press into.”

From New York Times ● May 3, 2010

The "English" world is non-Amish society; among themselves most Amish speak the German dialect known as Pennsylvania Dutch, and in religious services they use High German.

From Time Magazine Archive

And this seemed confirmed by the German plaudertasche, or a chatter-bag, till I learnt from Wackernagel, Glossar, that in the Middle High German Tasche = a woman.

From Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 105, November 1, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Various