East Low German

Language classification
Indo-European languages Germanic languages West Germanic languages Low German languages East Low German

East Low German dialects are spoken in north eastern parts of Germany as well as by minorities in northern Poland. They are part, together with Low Saxon and the Low Franconian language, of Low German. There is no clearly defined border between regions where East Low German and Low Saxon dialects are spoken. Plattdüütsch is the name for both the Low Saxon and the East Low German language.

East Low German dialects are:

• in Germany
  • Brandenburgisch (in Brandenburg)
  • Pomeranian (in Pomerania)
  • Mecklenburgisch (eastern parts)

• in Poland
  • Westpreussisch (spoken by minorities around Gdansk in northern Poland, since 1945 nearly extinct)
  • Ostpreussisch (spoken by minorities in Warmia and Mazury in Poland, since 1945 nearly extinct)

It also includes Plautdietsch (originating from Danzig), which is spoken by Mennonites in North America and a few other places in the world. Berlinerisch (in Berlin) was a version of Brandenburgisch in the mediaval ages until they split off. But nowadays it is seen as a east high German dialect.

See Prussia.