Visiting Vienna is an independent tourist and visitor information guide written by a local journalist.

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(Vienna time)

Wien

If you're troubled by various roadside signs pointing to Wien where you're expecting Vienna, relax. Wien is the local (German) word for Vienna. It's pronounced "Veen" (with a V).

So Wien is the city of Vienna, and a Wiener is a man or boy who comes from Vienna (and, crucially, not a sausage - that's called a Frankfurter here). A woman or girl from Vienna is a Wienerin.

There is also Wienerisch, which is the German dialect spoken in the city, and which also has its own, often "colorful", vocabulary. It's hard to describe, but takes a lot of getting used to. Think Glaswegian English.

Vienna in other languages:

Spanish - Viena
French - Vienne
Czech - Víden
Estonian - Viin
Hungarian - Bécs (go figure)
Dutch - Wenen
Latin - Vindobona
Polish - Wieden