Franconian

language

Also known as: Central German

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Last updated

June 26, 2026

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Franconian refers to a group of West Germanic dialects with origins dating back to the late 8th or early 9th century. These dialects historically spanned an area from the lower Rhine River eastward to Bamberg in Bavaria and southward to northern Alsace. Franconian is partly classified as Low German and partly as High German.1

The term also relates to Franconia, a former duchy in Germany now part of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, and Hesse. "Low Franconian" specifically denotes the language used by Franks in the lower Rhine region, which evolved into modern Dutch and dialects in northwestern Germany. "Old Franconian" refers to these dialects as they were used before 1100.234

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West Germanic languages
History
…of the South Germanic “Franconian,” or Frankish. The crucial early period of this contact occurred in the 7th and 8th centuries and resulted from the expansion of Frankish (Merovingian and early Carolingian) power into the western coastal areas that were populated by North Sea Germanic groups. The most important…
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…of the South Germanic “Franconian,” or Frankish. The crucial early period of this contact occurred in the 7th and 8th centuries and resulted from the expansion of Frankish (Merovingian and early Carolingian) power into the western coastal areas that were populated by North Sea Germanic groups. The most important…
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Germany
Languages of Germany
The Central German, or Franconian, dialect and the Thuringian dialect helped to form the basis of modern standard German. The present-day influence of Thuringian is of greatest significance in Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt states. East Franconian is spoken in northern Bavaria, South Franconian in northern Baden-Württemberg. The Rhenish Franconian…
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The Central German, or Franconian, dialect and the Thuringian dialect helped to form the basis of modern standard German. The present-day influence of Thuringian is of greatest significance in Thuringia, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt states. East Franconian is spoken in northern Bavaria, South Franconian in northern Baden-Württemberg. The Rhenish Franconian…
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Old High German
…High German, a number of Franconian (Frankish) dialects also existed. Among them were East Franconian and Rhenish Franconian, spoken just north of the Upper German area, and the Central Franconian dialects, spoken along the Moselle and Rhine rivers to the northern borders of the High German speech area.
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…High German, a number of Franconian (Frankish) dialects also existed. Among them were East Franconian and Rhenish Franconian, spoken just north of the Upper German area, and the Central Franconian dialects, spoken along the Moselle and Rhine rivers to the northern borders of the High German speech area.
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