Low German

Meaning

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.
• 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.
• Any of many German dialects that are not the official standard although they are usually referred to only as "Platt".

Related

Similar words

• 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)

Opposite words

• High Dutch, High German (includes numerous Upper German and Middle German/Central German dialects from which standard High German mainly developed)

Narrower meaning words

• Dutch Low Saxon ; EFLG, East Frisian, Westphalian, Eastphalian, Mecklenburgish, East Pomeranian, Low Prussian; Mennonite Low German, Plautdietsch
• Low Saxon, Low Franconian

Origin

• Because northern Germany (Low Germany), where it is spoken, is lower in elevation than southern Germany.