When visiting Switzerland, it’s useful to have some knowledge of the country’s four national languages. However, knowing key phrases in Swiss German can be particularly beneficial as it’s the most spoken language. Although most people in Switzerland also speak excellent English, your efforts to converse in the local lingo will certainly be appreciated. Here are some common phrases in Swiss German, Swiss French, and Swiss Italian that will help you navigate the Swiss linguistic landscape.
Swiss German Phrases:
- Hello: Grüezi (Grew-tsi)
- Goodbye: Tschüss (Chuss)
- Please / You’re welcome: Bitte (Bit-te)
- Thank you: Danke (Dahn-keh)
- Yes / No: Ja / Nei (Ya / Nay)
- I don’t understand: Ich verstah nöd (Ich ver-stah nerd)
- Do you speak English?: Spreched Sie Englisch? (Spre-ch-ed see Eng-lish)
- Excuse me: Entschuldigung (Ent-shool-dig-ung)
- I’m sorry: Es tuet mer leid (Es tu-et mer lied)
- Help!: Hilf! (Hilf)
Swiss French Phrases:
- Hello: Bonjour (Bon-jor)
- Goodbye: Au revoir (O-reh-vwar)
- Please / You’re welcome: S’il vous plaît / De rien (Seel voo play / De ree-en)
- Thank you: Merci (Mer-see)
- Yes / No: Oui / Non (Wee / Non)
- I don’t understand: Je ne comprends pas (Zhe ne kom-prond pah)
- Do you speak English?: Parlez-vous anglais? (Par-lay voo on-glay)
- Excuse me: Excusez-moi (Ex-koo-zay mwah)
- I’m sorry: Je suis désolé (Zhe swee day-so-lay)
- Help!: Au secours! (O se-kor)
Swiss Italian Phrases:
- Hello: Buongiorno (Bon-jor-no)
- Goodbye: Arrivederci (Arri-ved-er-chi)
- Please / You’re welcome: Per favore / Prego (Per fa-vore / Pre-go)
- Thank you: Grazie (Grat-zie)
- Yes / No: Sì / No (See / No)
- I don’t understand: Non capisco (Non ka-pis-ko)
- Do you speak English?: Parli inglese? (Par-lee in-glay-se)
- Excuse me: Mi scusi (Me skoosi)
- I’m sorry: Mi dispiace (Me dis-pia-che)
- Help!: Aiuto! (Ah-yoo-to)
It’s worth noting that Romansh, the fourth official language, is not covered here due to its relatively limited usage among the Swiss population. Yet, even the smallest effort to speak the local languages is appreciated and often leads to more authentic and enriching interactions during your travels.
Caroline Webster is a proud Texan and a retired school teacher who discovered a passion for Switzerland upon her retirement.
She now spends her time traversing the Swiss rail network with her husband, James, delighting in the picturesque landscapes, rich culture, and historical depth of the Swiss Confederation.
From the panoramic views of the Glacier Express route to the cobblestoned streets of quaint Swiss towns, Caroline embraces her annual adventures, often sharing them with her five beloved grandchildren.
Her travels have shown her that the journey is just as important as the destination, and she looks forward to many more adventures in her golden years.