What language do they speak in Luxembourg?

Have you ever wondered what languages are spoken in Luxembourg? If you're thinking exclusively of Luxembourgish, you might be surprised. This small nation boasts a rich multicultural history and an exceptional population mix, with nearly 50% of residents being foreigners. In the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the majority of Luxembourgers are proficient in four languages: Luxembourgish, French, German, and English, the latter being taught from an early age in schools as a second language.

This linguistic tapestry reflects the country's dynamic past. Throughout its extensive history, Luxembourg has undergone various linguistic influences from European powers that occupied and governed the region. Over the eras, the spoken languages in the country have evolved, and each period of influence has contributed to the mosaic of linguistic diversity characterizing Luxembourg.

Languages spoken in Luxembourg: statistics

We will start by analyzing some statistics to better understand the linguistic landscape of Luxembourg, for this purpose, we will look at a study carried out in 2021 by the State Department of Statistics.

A revealing initial graph showcases the primary languages spoken in the nation along with the percentage of the population proficient in each. Luxembourgish stands out as the predominant language, followed by Portuguese, surpassing French, English, and Italian by a considerable margin, with German trailing behind. However, this graph also illustrates the evolution since 2011, indicating a relative decrease in the presence of Luxembourgish from 55.8% to 48.9% over the past decade. The percentages for Portuguese and Italian have also slightly declined, while the prominence of French and English as primary languages has increased.

Another noteworthy statistic explores the usage of languages in Luxembourg in different contexts, specifically at home and in the workplace or school.

Source: statistiques.lu

Language use based on geographic location

Luxembourgish as main language

The Luxembourgish as the primary language is prevalent from 25% to 45% of population around the capital and in most densely populated municipalities. In the rest of the country, primarily in medium and small municipalities, Luxembourgish is the most common primary language, with percentages ranging from 56% to 85%.

French as primary language

The use of French as the primary language in Luxembourg is concentrated in municipalities around the capital and in the southern and western suburbs, with percentages ranging from 10% to 27%. However, the spatial distribution of French in the workplace is markedly different, with percentages by municipality much higher, never falling below 43% and reaching up to 79%. This underscores the general observation that French is the most important language in the workplace.

German as solely local language

German plays a secondary role in Luxembourg, primarily as the main language in residences concentrated in the eastern part of the country, close to the border with Germany.

English language in Luxembourg

A quarter of respondents exclusively speak English at work or school, 11% use it at home and work, and 2% solely at home. The spread of the English speakers varies, mostly it is used in Luxembourg City, the capital, as it is seen as a center for business communication.

Luxembourgish – a national language of Luxembourg

Luxembourgish is now the main language for 275,361 people in Luxembourg and as we've seen, is one of the official languages of Luxembourg, but it hasn't always held that status.

Luxembourg has undergone frequent transitions between German and French dominance, fell under Dutch control for a period, and was subsequently divided into parts, with a portion of the territory coming under Belgian rule. It only achieved full independence in 1890, but this independence was short-lived as the country was reoccupied and annexed by Germany during the World Wars. Due to this tumultuous history, Luxembourg's official languages were initially standard German and French.

Now, a question arises: with this mix of languages, what role does Luxembourgish play, and in what areas is it most utilized? Luxembourgish plays an important role in the following areas.

Private communication

Workplace

TV, radio, media

Political arena

In various aspects of life, the use of Luxembourgish aligns with the trends in language use as the primary language, with some nuances. Additionally, there are situations where Luxembourgish is particularly useful or even indispensable.

Obtaining citizenship

You must not only live in the country for more than 5 years but also pass a language test.

Chatting with locals

Despite locals being fluent in three languages from childhood, everyone is often conversing in Luxembourgish.

To conclude, here's a table with some Luxembourgish words and expressions to provide you with a glimpse of the language.

French – administration's language in Luxembourg

French is also one of Luxembourg's official languages and one of the most widely spoken languages in the country, with approximately 83,802 people using it as their primary language, representing 14.9% of the population.

Geographically, the use of French as the main language is quite consistent, concentrating in municipalities around the capital and in the southern and western peripheries. In areas of life strongly influenced by French, we observe the following.

Workplace

Shopping

Administration

German – localy prevalent language

While not as prevalent as the previously mentioned languages, German is also an important language in Luxembourg spoken by a significant portion of the population.

Approximately 16,412 people use German as their primary language, constituting 2.9% of the population. Geographically, German is more commonly spoken towards the east, which is naturally expected.

German's notable presence is particularly evident in the media, where it has traditionally been the language of choice in the written press. Although the use of French has increased in traditional newspapers and some weeklies, articles in Luxembourgish remain the exception. In recent years, there has been a rise in publications in English, reflecting the linguistic diversity within the country.

Portuguese – a popular language in Luxembourg

The 86,598 Portuguese speakers, constituting 15.4% of the population, make Portuguese the second most-spoken language as the primary language after Luxembourgish, despite not being an official language. This prominence is attributed to significant Portuguese immigration to Luxembourg.

Many Portuguese citizens left their country during a period of economic crisis, seeking employment opportunities in prosperous Luxembourg. Prior to the Carnation Revolution in April 1974, Portugal, led by Marcelo Caetano, the successor to autocrat Salazar, actively encouraged emigration to address economic challenges. Luxembourg warmly welcomed these workers, particularly in the construction sector, where they played a vital role in the country's economic development.