Cimbrian is related to Austro-Bavarian and is sometimes classified as a Southern Bavarian dialect. However, as there are many essential differences in grammar as well as in vocabulary and pronunciation, it is practically unintellegible for people speaking German or Austro-Bavarian. So it should be considered as a separate language at its own. Cimbrian shows many archaic features.
The three major dialects of Cimbrian are spoken in the "Sieben Gemeinden" (Sette Comuni) near Asiago; the "13 Gemeinden" (13 Comuni), near Verona; and near Luserne.
This area was settled in about the year 1000 by people coming from Tyrol, and since then it was isolated from other German speaking areas, politically and linguistically.