Ladin is a Romance language spoken in the valleys around the Sella massif. It developed from the Latin spoken in the Alps in Roman times, mixed with older local languages, and it has survived in these valleys for centuries.
There is no single Ladin. Each valley has its own variety, with its own spelling and its own words, and speakers from neighboring valleys understand each other with a little effort.
Where you will hear it
- Val Gardena
- Val Badia
- Val di Fassa
- Livinallongo (Fodom)
- Ampezzo, around Cortina
In South Tyrol, Ladin is taught in school alongside Italian and German, and many place names appear in three languages. Ortisei is also St. Ulrich and Urtijëi. Selva is also Wolkenstein and Sëlva.
Nobody expects visitors to speak it. But a greeting in Ladin at a hut bar is always noticed, and our planners will teach you a few words on the first evening.
