Low German

West Germanic language Low GermanLow SaxonPlattdütsch, Plattdüütsch, Plattdütsk, Plattdüütsk, Plattduitsk (South-Westphalian), Plattduitsch (Eastphalian), Plattdietsch (Low Prussian); Neddersassisch; NedderdüütschNative toNorthern and western GermanyEastern NetherlandsSouthern DenmarkEthnicityDutchGermansFrisiansRussian MennonitesHistorically SaxonsNative speakers(Estimated 4.35–7.15 millionUp to 10 million second-language speakers cited 2001)Language familyIndo-European GermanicWest GermanicNorth Sea GermanicLow GermanEarly formsOld Saxon Middle Low German Dialects Low Saxon East Low German Writing systemLatinOfficial statusRecognised minoritylanguage in Netherlands Germany Schleswig-Holstein Hamburg Lower Saxony Saxony-Anhalt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Brandenburg Bolivia (70,000) Paraguay (30,000) Brazil (8,000)Language codesISO 639-2ndsISO 639-3nds (Dutch varieties and Westphalian have separate codes)Glottologlowg1239 Low GermanLinguasphere52-ACBPost-1945 Low German language area in Europe. In almost all parts, High German has replaced Low German as the majority language and language used in daily life.This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering s