What is the official language of Austria?

What is the official language of Austria? German. Austria's constitution identifies German as the country's official language, while Austrian German is the national standard variety used in public life.

Austrian German belongs to the broader German language and differs from varieties spoken in Germany and Switzerland through pronunciation, vocabulary, and some official terms. For example, Austrian usage includes distinctive words for foods and everyday items, and Austrian legal and administrative language has its own conventions.

Many Austrians speak Bavarian or Alemannic dialects in daily conversation, depending on the region. These dialects can sound quite different from formal Standard German, but German remains the language of government, education, national media, and most public communication.

Italian, Croatian, Hungarian, Slovene, and other languages also have recognised minority-language protections in parts of Austria. “Austrian” is not a separate official language; it usually refers informally to Austrian German or to Austrian dialects. German is therefore the single canonical answer for this question.