How are Low German and High German different?

The primary distinction between Low German and High German lies in their sound systems, specifically regarding the High German consonant shift.

The Consonant Shift

During the 6th century, a series of sound changes occurred in the southern highlands that did not affect the northern lowlands. This shift transformed the voiceless stops p, t, and k into affricates (at the beginning of words or when doubled) or long fricatives (after vowels). For example, while Low German retained forms like hopen, biten, and maken, High German shifted these to hoffen, beissen, and machen.1

Geographic and Status Differences

• High German: Spoken in the central and southern highlands, it serves as the basis for Standard German, the official language used in administration, education, and media. It is subdivided into Middle German and Upper German dialects.123
• Low German: Spoken in the northern lowlands, it developed from Old Saxon. Unlike High German, it lacks a modern standard literary or administrative form and is primarily a spoken variety used in informal or regional contexts.123

While Standard German is rooted in Middle German dialects, its modern spoken pronunciation is often described as "High German with Low German sounds" due to the prestige of northern phonetic influences.13