What is the legal language in Germany?
Asked by: Prof. Tad Abernathy | Last update: September 24, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (5 votes)
The legal language is German. The main source of the law is the Constitution of May 1949 known as the Fundamental Law for the Federal Republic of Germany (which has become the constitution of reunified Germany).
Is there an official language in Germany?
The official language of Germany is German, with over 95 percent of the country speaking Standard German or a dialect of German as their first language.
What is the language law in Germany?
In matters of state, German is declared as official language by the State Administrative Procedure Act. The states of Berlin, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saxony-Anhalt do not have any ordinances defining an official language.
What are the 3 most spoken languages in Germany?
- German 94.17%
- English 31.93%
- French 8.81%
- Russian 7.64%
- Turkish 2.67%
- Polish 2.6%
- Spanish 2.5%
- Italian 2.19%
What legal system is used in Germany?
Germany is a federal constitutional republic comprised of 16 constituent states, known as Länder in German. The German legal system falls within the civil law tradition, which traces its origins to Roman law.
Germany's Basic Law
How does German law differ from English law?
Germany and England have two fundamentally different legal systems – Civil Law, which is based on codified provisions, and Common Law, where court judgments create legally binding precedent to be followed by lower courts in subsequent cases.
What is the legal drinking age in Germany?
We focused on this group as 18 is the national legal age of sale in Germany for all alcohol (16 is the legal age for wine and beer only) and drinking trends among adolescents differ from adults (Pennay et al., 2018).
Can I speak English in Germany?
Fifty-six percent of people in Germany speak English, and some businesses have even adopted it as their primary language. If you're an English speaker aspiring to move to Germany on a digital nomad visa but don't speak the lingo (yet), check out this list of the seven best cities in Germany for English speakers.
Are Deutsch and German the same?
German (Deutsch, pronounced [dɔʏtʃ]) is a West Germanic language in the Indo-European language family, mainly spoken in Western and Central Europe.
Is swearing at someone illegal in Germany?
Under German law, it is generally a criminal offense to insult a person. The crime is punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine. (Strafgesetzbuch [StGB] [Criminal Code], Nov. 13, 1998, as amended, BGBl.
Is English mandatory in Germany?
Learning a foreign language is compulsory throughout Germany in secondary schools and English is one of the more popular choices. Students at certain Gymnasium are required to learn Latin as their first foreign language and choose a second foreign language.
What is the quiet law in Germany?
When do you need to be quiet? The commonly agreed upon quiet hours in Germany (Ruhezeit time period) are from 10pm and 6 or 7am on weekdays and the entire day on Sundays, although there can be some exceptions in different cities or if your landlord imposes other rules as well.
What is the easiest German word to say?
- Ja = Yes.
- Nein = No.
- Hallo = Hello (used as a casual greeting)
- Tschüss = Bye (used as a fairly informal farewell)
- Auf Wiedersehen = Goodbye (used as a more formal farewell)
- Danke = Thanks.
- Entschuldigung = Excuse me.
- Es tut mir leid = I'm sorry.
Is English widely spoken in Germany?
1. English. 56% of the population speak English. Its growing popularity as the official language of business has resulted in more German businesses officially adopting English as their main language.
What is the main religion in Germany?
Christian church, including both Catholicism and Protestantism, is the dominant church in Germany. Still, there are many other religious practices such as Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism that are popular in Germany.
Do Germans say "Guten Tag"?
Some common German greetings include "Guten Morgen" (Good morning), "Guten Tag" (Good day), "Hallo" (Hello), "Wie geht es Ihnen?" (How are you?), and "Auf Wiedersehen" (Goodbye).
What is goodbye in German slang?
(Goodbye!) The word tschüss (bye) can be used in both formal and informal settings but it is more common in informal ones.
Are Germans friendly to foreigners?
Germans may take longer to warm up to people from different backgrounds, but this isn't due to unfriendly intentions. Instead, it often reflects a cultural difference in how friendships are built. While Germans might take longer to feel comfortable with foreigners, they are still open to forming lasting friendships.
Can I survive in Germany with only English?
Can you live in Germany without knowing German? It is just about possible to live in Germany without knowing much German. But in order to find employment and to fully integrate into society, you will need to be able to speak and read German to a good standard, especially if you live outside the major cities.
What is the most foreigner-friendly city in Germany?
- Berlin. Berlin is an obvious choice because it is the largest city in Germany. ...
- Munich. Munich is another great city for expats. ...
- Hamburg. Hamburg is an excellent option for internationals. ...
- Dusseldorf. ...
- Leipzig. ...
- Bremen. ...
- Aachen.
Why is alcohol so cheap in Germany?
The tax rates for alcoholic beverages in Germany are below average compared to the rest of Europe, and there are very few regulations governing availability. Drinking in public is generally legal and considered socially normal.
What country has the lowest drinking age in the world?
At 13, Burkina Faso is the country with the youngest age of alcohol consumption.
What is the legal smoking age in Germany?
Under Germany's "Protection of Young Persons Act" it is unlawful to sell or supply any tobacco product to anyone who is under eighteen years of age. It is also illegal to permit minors to smoke in any public place.