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

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

Eythana Miller on working to preserve Pennsylvania Dutch. — Literary Hub, 22 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

Word History

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Pennsylvania Dutch

• clutch
• crutch
• cutch
• hutch
• much
• mutch
• such
• touch
• insomuch
• overmuch
• nonesuch
• retouch

Kids 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