Swiss German vs. Standard German

Swiss German is a dialect spoken in Switzerland. It is not a separate language but a regional variation of German. In school, people in Switzerland first learn Standard German, starting in kindergarten. Many movies are also watched in Standard German, as it is the standard language people learn.

It is interesting to see how similar or different Standard German and Swiss German are. Although Swiss German speakers can understand and speak Standard German, the reverse is often not true. A Standard German speaker often understands very little of what is said in Switzerland. This is also true for many German learners who come to Switzerland and suddenly understand little.

There are many differences in pronunciation and vocabulary. Here are some examples to show the differences between Standard German and Swiss German:

• Guten Tag becomes Grüezi
• Hallo becomes Hoi
• Ich spreche Hochdeutsch becomes Ich rede Schwiizerdütsch
• Das Haus becomes S Huus
• Die Straße becomes D Straass
• Das Fahrrad becomes S Velo
• Das Auto becomes S Auto
• Der Mülleimer becomes De Chübel
• Der Gehweg becomes S Trottoir

The word Trottoir is a French loanword. Standard German has many French influences, but Swiss German probably has even more, as there is also a French-speaking part of Switzerland. The word Velo also comes from the French "Le Vélo".

More examples of differences

• Wie geht's? becomes Wie gahts?
• Wohin gehst du? becomes Wohin gaasch?
• Ich gehe nach unten becomes Ich gang abe
• Ich nehme den Zug becomes Ich gang uf de Zueg
• Ruf mich an, wenn du angekommen bist becomes Lüüt mir aa, wenn du aacho bisch
• Hast du dein Portemonnaie dabei? becomes Häsch dis Portemonnaie debii?
• Ich muss zur Arbeit becomes Ich muss go schaffe
• Ich habe heute ein Brötchen mit Marmelade gefrühstückt becomes Ich ha hüt es Weggli mit Gschwellti zum Zmorge gha

A Weggeli is a small bread roll, and Zmorge means breakfast.

• Woher kommen Sie? becomes Vo wo chömet Sie?
• Komm, wir müssen uns beeilen becomes Chum, mir müend pressiere

The word pressieren means to hurry.

• Schau mal! becomes Luege mal!
• Hör mir zu becomes Lose mir zue
• Ich hätte gerne einen Kaffee becomes Ich hetti gärn en Kafi
• Was guckst du mich so an? Hast du ein Problem? becomes Was luegsch so doof? Häsch es Problem?
• Wir müssen noch Kartoffeln kaufen becomes Mir müend no Härdöpfel chaufe
• Wir ziehen um becomes Mir zügled
• Was hast du heute Abend gegessen? becomes Was häsch hüt zum Znacht gha?
• Gehen wir aus? becomes Chunt ir usgang?

Uusgang means going out or leaving. It is not the same as the German "Ausgang," which refers to the exit from a building.

• Ich trinke Leitungswasser becomes Ich trinke Hahnewasser
• Treffen wir uns in der Kneipe? becomes O gäri gärn, mir träffet üs doch i de Beiz

A Beiz is a pub or a tavern.

• Wo ist mein Handy? becomes Wo isch mis Natel?

Natel used to be a common term for a mobile phone in Switzerland, derived from a telecommunications provider.

• Ich gehe schlafen becomes Ich gang go schlafe

The word gang in Swiss German corresponds to the Standard German word gehe.

• Ich habe Schluckauf becomes Ich ha de Hitsgi

Standard German in Switzerland

In Switzerland, Standard German is mainly used as a written language. This means that official documents, books, newspapers, and essays are written in Standard German at school. Standard German is also often spoken on television and in the news.

However, when people chat informally with friends, for example via WhatsApp, they often write in Swiss German. So, Swiss people also speak dialect in everyday life and understand each other.

For people moving to Switzerland from abroad, it is recommended to learn Standard German first. You will be understood in Switzerland anyway, as Standard German is taught in schools. It is important to have a solid foundation in Standard German before trying to understand Swiss German, otherwise, you might use unusual constructions that are not correct.

When you have lived in Switzerland for a longer time, you can also start to understand Swiss German and perhaps pick up a few words. But the foundation should always be Standard German.