High German languages

High German languages are West Germanic varieties shaped by the High German consonant shift, including Central German, Upper German, and Standard German.

High German consonant shift: A set of sound changes that transformed certain Proto-Germanic consonants in High German varieties. This sound shift distinguishes High German from other West Germanic varieties.
Germanic sound shifts: Systematic historical changes in consonants and vowels across the Germanic languages. The High German shift is one regional episode in broader Germanic sound change.
Old High German: The earliest attested stage of High German, used roughly from the eighth through the eleventh centuries. Its written records preserve early evidence of the consonant shift.
Low Franconian languages: A West Germanic group including Dutch and related varieties that did not undergo the High German consonant shift. Low Franconian stands outside the shift-defined High German group.
Central German: A group of High German dialects spoken across parts of central Germany and neighboring regions. Central German occupies the middle region of the traditional High German division.
Second Germanic consonant shift: A historical name for the High German consonant shift, distinguishing it from Grimm's law. This name situates the defining shift within the sequence of Germanic sound changes.
Middle High German: A historical stage of High German used roughly from the twelfth through the mid-fourteenth centuries. It shows the development of High German after its earliest recorded stage.
Dutch language: A West Germanic language spoken chiefly in the Netherlands and northern Belgium. Dutch preserves consonant patterns that distinguish it from shifted High German varieties.
Upper German: A group of High German dialects spoken mainly in southern Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland. Upper German forms the southern major branch of High German varieties.
Benrath line: An isogloss marking the northern limit of the change from maken to machen. This boundary illustrates how far north a key shift feature extends.

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