Today’s topic is one many learners find tricky: mixing German with Luxembourgish. If that sounds like you, don’t worry—you’re not alone, and there are practical ways to overcome it.
Let me start with a message I got from one of the lovely subscribers to my newsletter. It’s the kind of message I see a lot—and if you’ve ever found yourself accidentally slipping into German mid-sentence, you’ll definitely relate.
“One of my biggest problems is that I struggle separating German and Luxembourgish, so I often use German words or grammatical constructs when I try to speak Luxembourgish.”
Sound familiar? Maybe you are a German native or you studied German before Luxembourgish. Or maybe your work environment is bilingual, so you switch between the two constantly.
This is normal. German and Luxembourgish are closely related. But that also means your brain has to work a little harder to keep them apart.
Why This Happens
So, what’s going on in your brain?
Your brain builds language systems based on patterns. And when two languages are similar – like German and Luxembourgish – those systems can get tangled. Especially when it comes to:
- Conjugation of verbs
- Modal verbs
- Vocabulary (besonders might slip out instead of besonnesch or aber instead of awer or sehr instead of ganz)
- Pronunciation (ich instead of ech, machen instead of maachen
Your brain grabs the easiest, most familiar pattern – and often, that’s German.
What You Can Do About It
Good news – you can train your brain to separate the two. Here are a few strategies I recommend:
1. Create Luxembourgish-only spaces.
Designate certain times or places – like your drive to work or 15 minutes during lunch break or before bed – for Luxembourgish only. No German allowed.
2. Practice speaking slowly and consciously.
When you rush, your brain defaults to old habits. Slow down and focus on Luxembourgish sentence structures. Always practice by speaking out loud—not just in your head. Hearing yourself speak Luxembourgish helps you stay focused and boosts your motivation, because you’ll actually hear your confidence growing.
Beispill:
Imagine you’re preparing to introduce yourself at a business meeting in Luxembourgish. Instead of rushing through your sentences, try this step-by-step exercise:
- Write down your introduction in Luxembourgish, for example:
“Moien, ech sinn d’Sandra. Ech schaffen als Informatikerin op enger privater Bank an der Stad. Ech betreien eng kleng Ekipp vun 3 Persounen. Meng Aarbecht gefält mir ganz gutt, besonnesch d’Kollaboratioun mat menger Ekipp” - Read it aloud slowly, focusing on each word and the sentence structure. For instance, pause briefly after each phrase
- As you speak, pay attention to your pronunciation and rhythm. Don’t worry about speed—focus on clarity.
- Notice how slowing down helps your brain to avoid slipping into old habits from other languages and allows you to internalize authentic Luxembourgish patterns.
- Finally, record yourself or speak in front of a mirror to hear your own progress. This feedback loop builds your confidence and helps you maintain that slower, more thoughtful pace in real conversations.
3. Compare and contrast.
Make a list of sentences in both languages and highlight the differences in verbs, verb conjugation, vocabulary and grammar. Seeing the contrast helps you remember.
Beispill:
Context: You’re replying to a colleague and want to say: We’re working on the project.
- Step 1: Write the sentence in both languages: Wir arbeiten an einem Projekt – Mir schaffen un engem Projet.
- Step 2: Compare and highlight the differences: Subject Wir vs Mir / Verb arbeiten vs schaffen / Preposition: an einem vs un engem / Noun: Projekt vs Projet
- Step 3: Highlight patterns and rules.
4. Use “Luxembourgish anchors”
These are words, chunks or phrases that only exist in Luxembourgish and not in German.
Beispiller:
dacks – ech spillen dacks Tennis,
ganz gutt – et geet mir ganz gutt,
ech hätt gär – ech hätt gär e Jus,
Elo or ech ginn – ech ginn elo heem
Practice them often. They’ll root you in the right language.
5. Record yourself.
Listening to your own speech can reveal which patterns you’re borrowing from German – and help you catch them next time.
It’s not a failure to mix languages
Here’s the thing—it’s not a failure when you mix languages. In fact, it’s a sign that your brain is actively working with both systems. You’re noticing the differences, which means you’ve already come a long way. Mixing them up doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong—it means you’re in the process of fine-tuning a complex skill.
You’re not starting from scratch. You’re building on a solid foundation. So be kind to yourself. Every mix-up is a stepping stone, not a setback.
If this has been frustrating for you, take a breath and remember: you’re doing the work. You’re learning, growing, and showing up—and that’s what really counts.
Want to speak Luxembourgish more fluently and confidently—especially with new people or at work?
Then it’s time to join our conversation classes: Schwätz mat eis!
Whether you’re at A2 or B1 level, we’ve got a group for you. In each session, you’ll:
✅ Practice real-life conversations
✅ Build confidence in a relaxed, friendly setting
✅ Talk about everyday topics that matter
✅ And end each class with a fun language game!
Let’s make learning Luxembourgish something you look forward to.
Get all the details on my website: luxembourgishwithanne.lu
Bis geschwënn – and keep speaking Luxembourgish with confidence!
