Pennsylvania Dutch
noun
Penn·syl·va·nia Dutch
ˌpen(t)-səl-ˈvā-nyə- 
-nē-ə-
1
: a people originally of eastern Pennsylvania whose characteristic cultural traditions go back to the German migrations of the 18th century
2
: a dialect of German spoken mainly in Amish communities especially in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana
Pennsylvania Dutchman
noun
Examples of Pennsylvania Dutch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Eythana Miller on working to preserve Pennsylvania Dutch.
—
Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
There are other reasons for the stigma attached to Pennsylvania Dutch, including that the language is almost exclusively used orally.
—
Eythana Miller,
The Dial,
23 June 2026
This is not fusion, but testament to the world as one big town, as perhaps only a third-culture kid — with Filipino and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry, and a girlhood spent in the Deep South — would know.
—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Fisher's Amish roots and ability to speak Pennsylvania Dutch, the Old Order Amish dialect, have helped build rapport with like-minded musicians.
—
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Fisher’s Amish roots and ability to speak Pennsylvania Dutch, the Old Order Amish dialect, has helped build rapport with likeminded musicians.
—
ABC News,
1 May 2026
European settlers, specifically the Pennsylvania Dutch, brought the custom to the U.S., according to The Old Farmer's Almanack.
—
Doris Alvarez Cea,
Florida Times-Union,
2 Feb. 2026
The Strasburg Train offers a stunning ride through Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Dec. 2025
Long before cheesesteaks and Tastykakes, the German-speaking Pennsylvania Dutch, who first settled in southeastern Pennsylvania in the 17th century, established a cuisine—influenced by their German heritage and agrarian society—that still thrives in the region today.
—
Cnt Editors,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 Sep. 2020
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Literary Hub,
25 June 2026
There are other reasons for the stigma attached to Pennsylvania Dutch, including that the language is almost exclusively used orally.
—
Eythana Miller,
The Dial,
23 June 2026
This is not fusion, but testament to the world as one big town, as perhaps only a third-culture kid — with Filipino and Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry, and a girlhood spent in the Deep South — would know.
—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Fisher's Amish roots and ability to speak Pennsylvania Dutch, the Old Order Amish dialect, have helped build rapport with like-minded musicians.
—
CBS News,
2 May 2026
Fisher’s Amish roots and ability to speak Pennsylvania Dutch, the Old Order Amish dialect, has helped build rapport with likeminded musicians.
—
ABC News,
1 May 2026
European settlers, specifically the Pennsylvania Dutch, brought the custom to the U.S., according to The Old Farmer's Almanack.
—
Doris Alvarez Cea,
Florida Times-Union,
2 Feb. 2026
The Strasburg Train offers a stunning ride through Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Dec. 2025
Long before cheesesteaks and Tastykakes, the German-speaking Pennsylvania Dutch, who first settled in southeastern Pennsylvania in the 17th century, established a cuisine—influenced by their German heritage and agrarian society—that still thrives in the region today.
—
Cnt Editors,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 Sep. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Pennsylvania Dutch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pennsylvania%20Dutch. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Pennsylvania Dutch
noun
Penn·syl·va·nia Dutch
ˌpen(t)-səl-ˌvā-nyə-
-nē-ə-
1
: a people living mostly in eastern Pennsylvania whose culture goes back to the German migrations of the 18th century
2
: the German dialect of the Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutchman
noun
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