Languages Spoken in Metz, France

A Multilingual Crossroads in Northeast France

French is the sole official language and dominates education, government, media, and daily life in Metz. However, the city's location near the Luxembourg, German, and Belgian borders creates a rich linguistic mosaic:

Regional & Minority Languages

• Luxembourgish (Lëtzebuergesch): Widely spoken in the Metz area due to cross-border commuting and historical ties. Recognized as a regional language.
• German: Historically significant (Metz was German 1871–1918, 1940–1944); still spoken by older residents and in some families.
• Platt (Lorraine Franconian): A Germanic dialect traditionally spoken in the region; now endangered but preserved culturally.

Immigrant & International Languages

• Italian: From post-WWII immigration; community remains active.
• Arabic: Spoken by North African and Middle Eastern communities.
• Portuguese: Growing community from recent migration.
• English: Widely understood in tourism, business, and higher education (e.g., Georgia Tech Lorraine campus).

Metz's linguistic landscape reflects its history as a borderland city—officially French, culturally layered, and increasingly global.