Posted by Ecommersify Editorial on Sep 26th 2026
Pennsylvania Dutch: What Language Do the Amish Speak?
Most Old Order Amish speak Pennsylvania Dutch and English. Pennsylvania Dutch, also called Pennsylvania German, developed among German-speaking immigrants in colonial Pennsylvania. It is distinct from the Dutch language spoken in the Netherlands—and it is more than English spoken with an accent.
Three names often appear in discussions of Amish language: Pennsylvania Dutch, English and Standard German. They describe different languages or varieties used for different purposes. Understanding that distinction clears up much of the confusion.
Pennsylvania Dutch has German roots and an American history
German-speaking settlers brought several regional varieties of speech to colonial America. Pennsylvania Dutch developed into a distinct American language in that setting. Its name preserves a history of migration and community, rather than identifying the modern Netherlands as its place of origin.
The larger story of German in America includes many communities, denominations and regional languages. Pennsylvania Dutch is one branch of that story, with its own development. Treating every German-derived variety as identical misses those differences; treating Pennsylvania Dutch as simply modern Standard German does the same.
Which language is used where?
| Language | Common role in many Old Order communities |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Dutch | Conversation within the community and much preaching. |
| English | School instruction, much reading and writing, and communication with people outside the community. |
| Standard German | Religious reading and traditional hymn texts. |
These are broad patterns, not a script for every household. Some Swiss Amish communities speak a Swiss German variety instead of Pennsylvania Dutch.
Why English does not replace every other language
Being bilingual means having more than one language available. It does not mean choosing one language once and abandoning the other. A community language can carry familiar expressions and relationships, while another language serves schooling, written information or communication with a wider public.
That distinction helps an English-speaking visitor understand an ordinary encounter. An English conversation at a business need not reveal what language its owner uses at home. The language of an invoice and the language of a family conversation serve different purposes.
Why German matters in worship
Traditional Amish singing uses German hymn texts, including those in the Ausbund. Congregations sing together without instruments. The words connect worship with an Anabaptist religious inheritance, including texts written by imprisoned believers.
A hymn text and a spoken sermon therefore need not use precisely the same form of language. Religious reading, singing and everyday conversation each have a place in this multilingual tradition.
Is Pennsylvania Dutch spoken only by Amish people?
No. Its history includes non-Amish communities, particularly people from Lutheran and German Reformed backgrounds, as well as Mennonites. Amish and Old Order Mennonite families are especially important to its continued transmission to children today. A language and a religious identity overlap without being interchangeable.
The most useful takeaway is simple: Pennsylvania Dutch is a living community language with German roots and generations of American history. English and religious German sit alongside it, each doing different work in people’s lives.
For the wider context, read Who Are the Amish?. Readers interested in the material traditions alongside this cultural history can explore our Amish-made furniture, where each listing explains the piece itself.