What language is spoken in Luxembourg? Luxembourgish, French and German explained

Luxembourg runs on three languages — Luxembourgish, French and German — with English and Portuguese close behind. Which one you hear depends on where you are: at home, at the commune, at work, in the paper or on the radio. What the law says, what the 2021 census measured, and what it means for a newcomer.

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Luxembourg City: the Kirchberg plateau seen from the old fortifications
Photo: Cayambe, CC BY-SA 4.0, resized.

In short: Luxembourgish is the national language; French, German and Luxembourgish are all administrative languages; laws are written in French (1984 law). In the 2021 census Luxembourgish was the main language of 48.9% of residents, Portuguese of 15.4%, French of 14.9% (STATEC).

What the law says

UseLanguage(s)Source
National languageLuxembourgishLaw of 24 February 1984, art. 1; Constitution, art. 4
Laws and regulationsFrench (the French text is the authentic one)1984 law, art. 2
Administration and courtsFrench, German or Luxembourgish1984 law, art. 3
Replies to your lettersthe language you wrote in, as far as possible1984 law, art. 4

Since 1 July 2023 the Constitution adds that the language of the Grand Duchy is Luxembourgish and that the law regulates the use of Luxembourgish, French and German (Legilux). English has no official status — but you will hear a lot of it.

Wann een eng nei Identitéitskaart brauch, muss een se op der Gemeng ufroen.

Literally: If you need a new ID card, you have to apply for it at the commune.

Meaning: *Gemeng* — the commune, where most paperwork starts. Words for it: office and administration, law and government.

What people actually speak: the 2021 census

The census asked two questions: your main language (one answer) and the languages you usually speak at home, at work or at school (several answers). The answers (STATEC, RP2021 No. 8):

LanguageMain language (2021)Usually spoken (2021)
Luxembourgish48.9% (275,361 people)61.2%
French14.9%50.8%
Portuguese15.4%19.8%
English3.6%25.7%
German2.9%22.5%
Italian3.6%5.8%
Other languages10.8%18.0%

Two things stand out. More people speak Luxembourgish than ever — 275,361 named it as their main language in 2021, against 265,731 in 2011 — but its share fell from 55.8% to 48.9% because the population grew faster. And French is the great second language: half of the residents who answered use it regularly.

Dësen Dolmetscher schwätzt siwe Sproochen.

Literally: This interpreter speaks seven languages.

Meaning: schwätzen — to speak; *Sprooch* — language.

Which language where

  • At work and school: among residents who answered both census questions, about 65% use French at work or school, 57% Luxembourgish, 37% English and 31% German. Luxembourgish is usually spoken both at home and at work, or not at all; French and English are often work-only languages.
  • At home: Luxembourgish, Portuguese, French and many others. Among Luxembourgers whose parents were both born in the country, 99% give Luxembourgish as their main language.
  • In the media: newspapers are mostly in German, French or English, while Luxembourgish is well represented on radio and television (luxembourg.public.lu).
  • At the commune and in letters: forms and official letters are usually in French or German; you may write in any of the three administrative languages and get an answer in it as far as possible.
  • On the street and in shops: a mix — *Moien* and *Merci* almost everywhere, French in many shops, English in international offices. Learn the basics on hello, thank you and goodbye.

All Dag pendele vill Leit iwwer eis Grenzen, fir hei ze schaffen.

Literally: Every day many people commute across our borders to work here.

Meaning: Cross-border workers are one reason French is so common at work. schaffen — to work.

What it means for you

If you live here, some Luxembourgish opens doors that French and English don't: neighbours, the commune, your children's school, and — if you want it — nationality, which requires the Sproochentest. French is the most useful language at work for many jobs. Which to learn first depends on your goals: see which language to learn first in Luxembourg.

Start with Luxembourgish

16Word teaches Luxembourgish — and French and German — 16 words and sentences at a time, with native audio and a Blocks game between answers, from any of 36 languages. Free to start.

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Questions about the languages of Luxembourg

What language is spoken in Luxembourg?

Luxembourgish is the national language; French and German are, with Luxembourgish, the administrative languages. In daily life you also hear a lot of English and Portuguese.

What are the three official languages of Luxembourg?

Luxembourgish, French and German. Luxembourgish is the national language, laws are written in French, and all three may be used in administrative and judicial matters (law of 24 February 1984).

Is English spoken in Luxembourg?

Widely, but it has no official status. In the 2021 census 25.7% of residents who answered said they usually speak English — many of them only at work.

How many people speak Luxembourgish?

275,361 residents (48.9%) gave Luxembourgish as their main language in the 2021 census, and 61.2% of those who answered said they usually speak it.

In which language does the administration answer?

Under article 4 of the 1984 law, as far as possible in the language you wrote in — Luxembourgish, French or German.

Official sources

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