German (Deutsch) is a West Germanic language that is spoken predominantly in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland and Belgium. It is also one of the official languages of the European Union. German is the most widely spoken mother tongue in the EU, and it is the second most spoken language in Europe, after Russian. German is a pluricentric language, meaning that there are different variations and dialects of the language depending on the region. Standard German is based on High German, which is spoken in the central and southern regions of Germany. German has a complex grammar and a rich vocabulary, and it is known for its compound words.
