PA Dutch 101

Endecke. Zammehenke. Gheere. – Discover. Connect. Belong.

At PA Dutch 101, we’re more than just a resource—we’re your companion on the journey to learning the Pennsylvania Dutch language and embracing the rich culture and history that surrounds it. Whether you’re just starting out or reconnecting with your roots, we’ll walk beside you every step of the way with engaging blogs, immersive videos, and meaningful cultural insights. Let’s keep the language and culture alive – together.

Gut Glick un kumm bald widder. – Good luck and come back soon.

1780 Fraktur attributed to Johann Heinrich Otto

RESOURCES FOR YOUR JOURNEY

Explore the ultimate hub for PA Dutch learning—packed with engaging YouTube series, cultural insights, grammar help, music, and more to guide you every step of the way!

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PA DUTCH LEARNING RESOURCES

Learn the language. Live the culture. Explore it all with PA Dutch 101’s growing library of learning tools.

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PA DUTCH LIVE

Join the fun each month for the only livestream show dedicated to all things PA Dutch—featuring lively interviews, rich culture, and real conversations you won’t find anywhere else!

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SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Offering presentations on PA Dutch culture, language, music, history, and humor—customized for classrooms, organizations, and events of all sizes.

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TRANSLATION SERVICES

Offering reliable Pennsylvania Dutch translation services for documents, media, and more—accurate, efficient, and handled with care.

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DOUG’S FRONT PORCH

Real people. Real stories. Real porch talk—join Doug and his guests each month for meaningful conversations that feel like home.

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EVENT CALENDAR

Mark your calendars! Discover and join the latest PA Dutch events happening near you and online.

LATEST BLOGS

October 17, 2026Geschder bin ich uffwacker, un es waar mir glee bissel kiehl im Haus. Ich bin nausgange fer meie Zeiding zu griege, un ich hab Acht uff  de Bledder ghatt. Sie waare rot, gehl un aarensch. Es muss schunn Schpotyaahr sei. Ich gleich Schpotyaahr arrig viel. Ich weess net ob es mei Leiblingsyaahreszeit iss odder net, awwer ich gleich es. In em Nummidaag hawwich viel draus in mei Hof geduh. Ich hab mei Graas gemaeht. Nooch em Graasmaehe, hab ich Bledder vun meine Maebel- un Eechebeem uffgepickt. Es hot net so viel gewwe…die Beem sin nooch voll, awwer ee paar sin schunn nunnerkumme. Ass ich mit de Bledder am schaffe waar, hawwich die sunderbaare Geruch groche. Die Bledder in Schpotyaahr hen ihr eegne Geruch…un es iss siess zu meinre Naas. Ass ich faddig mit meine Bledder waar, hawwich in im Blummebett geschafft. Ich hab vier Grisanthymums gkaaft. Die waare arrig voll mit Blumme un sie waare so farewevoll. Ich hab die newwe em Haus geblanst. Ich hab aa ee paar Dullebaane, Oschderblumme un Krokuses geblanst. Ich hoff as die in Friehyaahr uffkumme! Yuscht mol sehne! Schpotyaahr iss aa die Zeit fer Ebbel, Ebbelseider un Karebse. Kiehler Owede un sonnige Daage…die sin so schee, Gell? Nau is aa die Zeit fer die Kinner uff ihre Spuckowed Koschtume zu denke. Ich hoff as alle vun eich aa Schpotyaahr gaarn hett. Schreib mich en Comment un loss mich mol wisse fer was dihr Schpotyaahr gleicht! Do iss en Audio Klip: Fall in Pennsylvania – image courtesy of the PA Wilds Yesterday I woke up and it was a little cool in the house. I went outside to get my newspaper and I paid attention to the leaves. They were red, yellow, and orange. It must be Fall. I like Fall a lot. I don’t know if it is my favorite season or not, but I like it. In the afternoon I did a lot out in my yard. I mowed my grass. After mowing, I picked up the leaves from my maple and oak trees. There were too many…the trees are still full, but a few did come down already. As I was working on my leaves, I smelled that wonderful scent. The leaves in fall have their own smell….and it is sweet to my nose. When I was finished with my leaves, I worked in my flower beds. I bought four Chrysanthemums. They were full of flowers and were so colorful. I planted them next to the house. I also planted a few tulips, hyacinths, and crocuses. I hope that they will come up in Spring. We will just have to see! Fall is also the time for apples, apple cider, and pumpkins. Cooler evenings and sunny days….they are so pretty, right? Now is also the time for kids to think about their Halloween costumes. I hope that all of you like Fall. Write a comment and let me know why you like Fall! [...]
September 12, 2026Well liewe Leser, mei Summer iss nau warricklich vorbei. Des Woch hab ich gegrische: “Do kumme die Kinner!”. Ya, Dinschdaag waar der aerschde Schuldaag fer selles Yaahr. Der aerschde Daag iss allsfatt schee. Die Schtudente sin arrig froh alle ihre Freinde widder zu sehne. Ich muss aa saage, dass die Schulmeeschdern sin aa froh die Kinner widderzusehne…well, net all die Kinner, awwer am menschde! All die Schtudente schtehe in dem Gang un schwetze iwwer was sie alles im Summer gemacht hen. ‘Sis allsfatt schee all die Gschichte zu heere…well, net all die Gschichte, awwer am menschde! Was arrig schee iss, wann ich die Schtudente zum aerschde Mol seit Tschuun seh. Mannichmol sehne sie ganz annerschder aus. Viel hen so viel gwaxe, as ich sie net kenn. Warricklich! Ich glaab selles Yaahr waerd en gudes Yaahr sei. Ich hab en Gruppe vun Hochdeitsch I, dann een Gruppe vun Hochdeitsch II, un mei Hochdeitsch III un IV sin in die gleiche Klaess zamme. Selles Yaahr hab ich aa en Gruppe vun AP Europaische Gschicht. AP iss en abaddiche Klaess. Sell is fer die Kinner die an der College geh wolle. Die Klaess is arrig hatt un gebt viel Arewet. Ich hab yuscht sex Schtudente in re AP Klaess…un all sex sin gut un gewissehaft. Ich weess schunn as sie all de Arewet duhe waerre. Ich hab aa zum aerschde Mol en Klaess iwwer Amerikaanische Regiering. Des iss en “Dual-Enrollment” Klaess. Sell mehnt ass wann die Kinner es gut verschtehne, kenne sie drei College Credits vun Pennsylvania College vun Technology griege mitaus Koscht! Denk mol nooch an deim aerschde Schuldaag. Was fallt eich bei? Waart dihr aa froh widder in September mit re Schul aazufange? Waart dihr aa froh eire Freinde widderzusehne? Do iss en Audio Klip: Blackberry One-Room Schoolhouse, York County, PA Well dear reader, my summer is now really over. This week I screamed: “Here come the kids!”. Yep, Tuesday was the first day of school for this year. The first day is always nice. The students are really happy to see all of their friends again. I must say, that the teachers are also happy to see the kids again…well, not all of the kids, but most of them! All of the students stand in the hall and talk about what they did in the summer. It is always nice to hear the stories…well, not all of the stories, but most of them! What is really nice, is when I get to see my students again for the first time since June. Sometimes they look very different. Many of them grow so much, that I don’t even know them. Really! I think this year will be a good year. I have a group of German 1, then a group of German 2, and my German 3 and 4 are in the same class together. This year I also have a group of AP European History. AP is a special class. That is for children that want to go to college. The class is really hard and there is a lot of work. I only have six students in that class this year…and all six are gut and conscientious. I already know that they will do all of the work. I also have for the first time a class about American Government. This is a “dual-enrollment” class. That means that if the students pass everything, they can get three college credits from Pennsylvania College of Technology at no cost! Think back to your first day of school. What do you remember? Were you happy to start school back up again in September? Were you also happy to see your friends again? [...]
August 15, 2026Letschde Woch sin mir darrich unser Weltdeel gfaahre. Wu sin mir gange? Nadd un Wescht in die Bariye! Do in Pennsylvaania hemmer viel Gediere in dem Busch wie: Hasch, Baere, Bassam, Fix, Koyote, un…Elk. Es gebt Elk in Pennsylvaania? Ya, ich weess sell klingt net recht. Elk sin Gediere die yuscht drauss Wescht sin wie in Colorado odder Wyoming. Well, sell is recht awwer es gebt Elk aa in Pennsylvaania. Frieher hot es viel Elk do in Pennsylvaania gewwe. In de Mitte vun de 1800s hen die Leit do in Pennsylvaania all die Elk gschosse. Der letschde Elk in Pennsylvaania waar im 1867 gschosse. Gschwischich 1913 un 1926 hen die Pennsylvaania Game Commission browiert die Elk zerickzubringe. Mir hen 170 Elk vun Yellowstone National Park gkaaft un dohergebrocht. Heitzudaage gebt es meh as 1,400 Elk in Pennsylvaania. Die Elk wuhne yuscht in ee paar Kaunties: Elk, Cameron, Clinton, McKean, Potter, Centre un Clearfield. Mer kann sie net yaage wie en Haasch, alle Yaahr gebt es en Lottery fer Elk Tags, un yuscht ee paar sin rausgewwe. So, nau sin sie wunnerfitzig…sie wolle die Elk sehne, awwer wie un wu? Well, zum Glick gebt es en Elk Country Bsucher Blatz. Sell findt mer in die gleene Schteddel vun Benezette in Elk Kaunty. Es Bsucher Blatz is arrig schee un modern. Es gebt en gleene Museum un en echde guder Movie iwwer die Elk in Pennsylvaania. Datt hen sie aa vier Aablickbletz all mit Binoculars un Schpeckdiefe. Mir waare datt uff em Mundaag awwer mir hen ken Elk gsehne. Ich glaab es waar zu heess fer sie un sie waare im Busch unnich en Baam wu es kiehler waar. Schpotyaahr is en gudi Zeit fer die Elk zu seh. Dann hen die Bulle die Fuchsgichdere un sie sin meh munder. Es Bsucher Blatz is net so leicht zu finne. Benezette is in de Mitte vun nariyets. Awwer ‘sis arrig schee datt in die Bariye zu faahre. Es Blatz koschdet nix reizugeh awwer mer muss $3.00 bezaahle fer es Movie zu seh. Nooch eier Bsuch kennt eich en guder Iems bei em Benezette Hotel kaafe. Sie hen gude Humbarriger un annere Sandwiches un gudes kaldes Bier! Wann dihr datt geht un dihr seht en Elk, gebt ach! Sie sin gross un wild. Bleibt weit weg genung fer eier Sicherheit. En gewaxne Bull Elk kann meh as 1,000 Pund wiege un sei Haschharn sin scharf! Do iss en Audio Klip: Last week we went driving through my area of the world. Where did we go? North and west in the mountains! Here in Pennsylvania we have many animals in the woods like: deer, bear, opposum, foxes, coyotes, and….elk. There are elk in Pennsylvania? Yes, I know that doesn’t sound right. Elk are animals just out west in Colorado or Wyoming. Well, that is right but there are elk in Pennsylvania too. Earlier there were many elk here in Pennsylvania. In the middle of the 1800s, the people here in Pennsylvania shot all of the elk. The last elk in Pennsylvania was shot in 1867. Between 1913 and 1926 the Pennsylvania Game Commission tried to bring the elk bck. We bought 170 elk from Yellowstone National Park and brought them here. Today there are more than 1,400 elk in Pennsylvania. The elk live in just a few counties: Elk, Cameron, Clinton, McKean, Potter, Centre, and Clearfield. One can not hunt them like deer, every year there is a lottery for elk tags, and just a few are given out. So, now you are curious…you want to see elk, but how and where? Well, luckily there is the Elk Country Visitor’s Center. That is located in the small town of Benezette in Elk County. The visitor’s center is really nice and modern. There is a small museum and an really good movie about the elk in Pennsylvania. There they have four viewing areas with binoculars and telescopes. We were there on a Monday but we didn’t see any elk. I believe it was too hot for them and they were in the woods under a tree where it was cooler. Fall is a good time to see the elk. Then the bulls are in the rut and they are more active. The visitor’s center is not so easy to find. Benezette is in the middle of nowhere. But it is really pretty to drive there in the mountains. The center doesn’t cost anything to visit but the movie costs $3.00. After your visit, you can buy a good meal at the Benezette Hotel. They have good hamburgers and other sandwiches and good cold beer! When you go there and see and elk, watch out! They are large and wild. Stay back fare enough for your safety. A full grown bull elk can weigh more than 1,000 pounds and their antlers are sharp! [...]
July 4, 2026Hallicher Gebottsdaag Amerika! Uff em 4. Tschulei waerrd mei Land, unser Land, 250 Yaahre feiere. So lang hen viel Lenner net gelebt, des wisse mir schunn. Zerick im Yaahr 1776 in Philadelphia hen 56 Menner ihre Naame uff en Blatt Babier unnergschriwwe. Was sie gemacht hen waar Verrot gege ihr Keenich…en Verbreche mit grosse Noochfolye. Ihr neies Land waar net en Land mit en Keenich odder Keenichin, net mit en Keenichsoh, net mit en Duke, net mit en Karrich. Ihr neies Land waar en Land mit en Gedanke un en Glaawe in Freiheit, Gleichheit, un Unabhaengigskeit. En Paerson kennt lewe wie er odder sie gewollt hot. Iwwer die Yaahre hot mei Land viel Erfolg ghatt awwer es hot aa viel Druwwel aa ghatt. Schklaaverei, was mir zu de Insching gemacht hen, Racism, un viel annere Sache sin aa in unsre Gschicht. Awwer mir hen aa viel Gudes geduh. Awwer die Arewet vun de Leit im 1776 iss noch net faddich gemacht. Yede Generation muss aa schaffe um die Grundgedanke vun unserem Land zu achieve. Heit, uff unsere 250. Gebottsdaag sing ich laut mit Schtolz in mei Hatz die Wadde vun em John Birmelin sei Lied “Amerikaa.” Ich hoff ass du aa mitsinge witt. Amerikaa Mei Land ich sing vun dir,Siess iss die Freiheit mir,Do will ich sei;So wie die alde Leit,So fiehl ich aa noch heit,Bin dir zu yedre ZeitImmer gedrei. An Felsebarriye naus,Iwwer die Wolke drauss,Ring Freiheitsklang!Winters im diefe Schnee,Summers wann’s Feld mit Glee,O Land, wie bischt du schee,Kling Freiheits Gsang! Unsrer Voledre Gott,Fiehr uns in yedre Not,An deinre Hand!So lang mir dir gedrei,Bleibt des Land gross un frei;Du sollscht uns Keenich sei,Schutz unserm Land. Do iss en Audio Klip vun “Amerikaa” vun mir gsunge: Happy Birthday America! On the 4th of July my county, our country, will celebrate 250 years. Many countries have not lived that long, that we all know. Back in the year 1776 in Philadelphia 56 men singed their names to a piece of paper. What they did was treason against their king…a crime with great consequences. Their new country was not a country with a king or queen, not with a prince, not with a duke, not with one church. Their new country was a country with ideas and a belief in freedom, equality and independence. A person can live how he or she wanted to. Over the years my country has much success but it also had its troubles. Slavery, what we did to the Native Americans, racism and many other wrongs are part of our story. We also did many good things too. But the work of the people in 1776 is not complete. Every generation must also work to achieve the grounding principles of our country. Today, on our 250th birthday, I sing loudly with pride in my heart the words of John Birmelin’s song “America.” I hope that you want to sing too. America My country I sing of thee,Sweet to me is the freedom,Here is where I want to be;Just like the older people,I feel the same way today,To you in every ageAlways faithful. From the mountain rocks,Over the clouds above,Rings freedom’s sound!Winters in deep snow,Summers when the fields with clover,O country, how pretty you are,Ring freedom’s song! The God of our ancestors,Lead us through all trouble,With your hand!As long as we are faithfulOur country will stay great and free;You should be our king,Protect our country. [...]
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