Pennsylvania Dutch

American

noun

the descendants of 17th- and 18th-century settlers in Pennsylvania from southwest Germany and Switzerland.
Also called Pennsylvania German. a dialect of High German with an admixture of English spoken mainly in eastern Pennsylvania, developed from the language of these settlers. PaD, PaG
the folk style of applied and decorative art developed by the Pennsylvania Dutch.

Pennsylvania Dutch British

noun

Also called: Pennsylvania German. a dialect of German spoken in E Pennsylvania
(functioning as plural) a group of German-speaking people in E Pennsylvania, descended from 18th-century settlers from SW Germany and Switzerland

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Pennsylvania Dutch Cultural

The German and Swiss settlers of Pennsylvania in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and their descendants. “Dutch” is a version of the German Deutsch, meaning “German.” The Pennsylvania Dutch are known for their tidy farms and their distinctive crafts and customs. A considerable number of them belong to strict religious denominations, such as the Amish.

Other Word Forms

Pennsylvania-Dutch

adjective

Etymology

Origin of Pennsylvania Dutch

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As the German-speaking Pennsylvania Dutch settled in America, the tradition moved stateside with a groundhog replacing the badger.

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2025

But accuracy doesn't stop people from reveling in the kitschy Pennsylvania Dutch holiday.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2024

Intended to preserve Pennsylvania German culture and traditions, clubs would sometimes fine those who were caught speaking anything but their Pennsylvania Dutch language at meetings.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 30, 2024

Pennsylvania Dutch apple dumplings are a wonderful exercise in taking something already close to perfect, and turning it into something blissfully, brilliantly, beautifully delectable.

From Washington Post • Oct. 25, 2022

Everyone raved about this Pennsylvania Dutch specialty, but I thought it tasted gross.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023