Hessian can be divided into four main dialects:[1] To understand this division, one must consider the history of Hesse and the fact that this state is the result of an administrative reform.

Hessian dialects are traditionally classified as part of Rhine Franconian dialect group, based on their reflexes of the High German consonant shift:[3] The main distinguishing feature between Hessian (in the traditional sense) and Palatine Rhine-Franconian is the retention of medial/final st, which became scht in the latter (Hessian: fest vs. Palatine: fescht).

An alternative classification has been proposed by German dialectologist Peter Wiesinger.

In the eastern North Hessian area, the MHG long vowels î, û, iu did not undergo New High German diphthongization (Ziiden 'times', Miise 'mice', Bruud 'bride', cf.

[5][6] Central Hessian is characterized by a number of distinctive vowel shifts from MHG:[7][8] A characteristic feature of East Hessian are the long mid monophthongs [eː], [oː], [eː]/[øː] from the MHG diphthongs ie, uo, üe, e.g. Breef 'letter', Broder 'brother', free 'early', cf.