What languages do Amish people speak?

Pennsylvania Dutch is not a written language. Pennsylvania German is generally not a written language. However, some attempts have been made to transcribe the language to a written form. Dictionaries have been compiled and some books written in the dialect. Amish speak English. read more

Old Order Mennonites speak Pennsylvania German as well, and Amish and Old Order Mennonites will converse in the language. Amish tend to switch to English when non-Amish enter within earshot, out of respect and to involve the others. read more

The language most spoken by the Amish is Pennsylvania German (Deitsch, Pennsylvania Deitsch, Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch, Hinterwäldler Deutsch, usually called Pennsylvania Dutch) and is a variety of West Central German spoken by the Amish and Old Order Mennonites in the United States and Canada, and closely related to the Palatine dialects. read more

The language variety they speak is known as 'Pennsylvania German', 'Pennsylvania Dutch' or 'Deitsch'. It's still a point of contention as to whether to use 'Dutch' or 'German' in the name (though it is not a dialect of Dutch, but of German - the confusion comes from the similarity between the words 'Deutsch' and 'Dutch'). read more