Do People in Europe even speak German as a first language?
Germany is actually the most spoken first language in the European Union, and the second most spoken second-language. Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Austria all use German mostly in day to day life. However, the definition of “German” can be confusing. The standard of German as we know it, is High German. There are many other languages that are very similar to German, and could even be regarded as dialects. Some examples like Dutch, is closer to High German then Bavarian. Swiss people also speak Swiss German (Another dialect) in day to day life, but should know High German too. Most people know passable English in Germany, however most people barely know it, and don’t expect everyone to know what you’re saying. A lot of people in the areas surrounding Germany also speak German as a second or first language. Some of these countries include the Netherlands (Half the population speaks it), Danish area near the German border, and Luxembourg (Taught in schools, and widely spoken).
