Swiss-German phrasebook

Swiss-German is considerably different from German, especially as it happens in regard to those very phrases which a traveler needs: niceties, greetings, asking for stuff, getting directions, etc. One of the key differences to getting by with Swiss German. For example, "Fine, thank you" is "Guet, merci"; with guet being the German word for good/fine, while merci is from the French "thank you". In addition, there are many pronunciation differences which separate Swiss-German from either language. For example, the diphthong in Swiss-German "guet" versus the monophthong in High-German "gut". Speaking Swiss-German is common for all people living in the Swiss-German part of Switzerland, independent of age or education. For writing, standard German is mostly used, though Swiss-German dialect is particularly popular on informal writing (e.g. in e-mail messages, SMS messages etc.). With the ongoing globalization and immigration, mixing Swiss-German dialects with English (quite often even with pseudo English) or speaking so called "Jugo-Deutsch" (German pronounced as immigrants coming from the former Yugoslavia region tend to pronounce it) has also become trendy for youngsters. Pronunciation guide Note that most of the following Swiss-German phrases and words are written as they would be pronounced by people living in the area around Bern, Basel, Zürich. Whilst Bernese dialect is widely understood in the Swiss-German part of Switzerland, it's by no means "official" Swiss-German (despite the fact that Bern is the Swiss capital). There is no standardized Swiss-German ("Schwyzerdüütsch"). Remarkably, the native dialects spoken in the many Swiss-German cantons are clearly distinguishable by locals (i.e. they can tell apart from the dialect in which canton somebody grew up). Vowels a as in master ä as in can e as in end i as in eel o as in off ö as in birthday u as in boot ü like german i but with rounded lips Doubled vowels are pronounced longer than single ones. Diphthongs All diphthongs (two different vowels next to each other in the same syllable) are pronounced with emphasis on the first vowel. äi, ou, ie, ue, üe are pronounced as written. eu is pronounced like ä + u öi is somewhere between o + i and ö + i Consonants b, d, f, g, h, l, m, n, ng, s: same as in English ch as in loch gg as in scale j as in yet k like gg + ch p as in spit (not as in pit) sch as in cash st, sp usually scht, schp t as in stack (not as in tack) v same as f w as in vane z as in cats Like with vowels, double consonants are pronounced longer. Phrase list Basics Hello/Hi (informal)  Hoi! Hi, everyone! (informal)  Hoi zäme! Hi (very informal)  Saluti! / Saletti! Hello (formal)  Grüezi! Hello, Ms./Mr. ... (formal) Grüezi Frau/Härr ... Hello, everyone (formal)  Grüezi mitenand! How are you? (informal)  Wie gaats dir? How are you? (formal)  Wie gaats Ine? I'm fine, thanks!  Mir gaats guet, danke! I don't feel well!  Mir gaats nöd so guet! What about you? (informal)  Und dir? What about you? (formal)  Und Ine? Good morning (informal and formal) Guete Morge Good evening  Guete Obig Problems I lost my wallet!  Ich han mis Portmone verloore! I feel sick/not well/upset  Ich füel mi schlächt Where is the police station?  Wo isch de Polizeiposchte? I have to report something  Ich mues öppis mälde Hospital Spitaal Is there a hospital nearby?  Häts da es Spitaal i de Nööchi? I am/we are lost!  Ich bin veloore/mer sind verloore Can you please tell me where.....is?  Bitte säged Si mir wo.....isch? : train station  Baanhoof taxi station  Taxistand bank  Bank post office  Poscht/Poschtamt hotel  Hotel church  Chile Ich bi verliebt!  I'm in love Ich lieb dich!  I love you! Numbers 1  äis (counting), äi (marked), e/en/es *unmarked* 2  zwäi 3  drüü 4  vier 5  föif/füüf 6  sächs/säggs 7  sibe 8  acht 9  nüün 10  zää 11  elf 12  zwölf 13  driizää 14  vierzää 15  füfzää 16  sächzää 17  sibezää 18  achzää 19  nüûnzää 20  zwänzg 21  einezwänzg 22  zwäiezwänzg 23  drüezwänzg 24  vierezwänzg 25  föifezwänzg 26  sächsezwänzg 27  sibenezwänzg 28  achtezwänzg 29  nünezwänzg 30  drissig 40  vierzig 50  füfzig 60  sächzig 70  sibzig 80  achtzig 90  nünzig 100  hundert 101  hundertundäis 102  hundertzwäi 1000  tuusig Clock time time  Ziit What time is it?  Was isch für Ziit? It is...  Es isch ... one o'clock  äis half past twelve  halbi äis quarter to one  virtel vor äis quarter past one  virtel ab äis ten past one  zää ab äis half past one  halbi zwäi three o'clock  drüü four/five/six/seven/eight/nine/ten/eleven/twelve o'clock vieri/föifi/sächsi/sibni/achti/nüüni/zäni/elfi/zwölfi a.m.  am Morge p.m.  am Aabig Duration How long does it take to go to...  Wie lang gaats bis ... How long does ... take...  Wie lang duuret... Days Monday  Mäntig Tuesday  Zischtig Wednesday  Mittwoch Thursday  Donnstig Friday  Fritig Saturday  Samschtig Sunday  Suntig Months January  Januaar February  Februaar March  März April  April May  Mai June  Juni July  Juli August  Auguscht September  Septämber October  Oktoober November  Novämber December  Dezämber Writing time and date date  Datum tenth of January, 2012  zäänte Januaar zwäituusigundzwölf Colors Red  root Blue  blau Black  schwarz Green  grüen White  wiiss Yellow  gälb Purple  violett Orange  orangsch Pink  rosa/pink Gray  grau Transportation Motorcycle  Töff Vespa, Motorbike  Töffli/ Mofa Bicycle  Velo Tram  Tram Bus  Bus Coach  Räiseggaar Train  Zug Airplane  Flugzüg (bus/tram) stop  Haltestell Directions Where is this bus going to?  Wo ane faart dä Bus? straight ahead  graad uus Left  links right  rächts in front  vore forwards  voorwärts in the back  hinde backwards  rückwärts back  zrugg Taxi to the ..... hotel please!  Zum Hotel ...... bitte! How much does it cost to ..., approximately?  Was choschtets öppe nach .......? airport  Flughafe train station  Baanhoof hotel  Hotel I'm in a hurry!  Ich hans pressant! We are in a hurry!  Mir händs pressant! Hurry, please!  Bitte pressiere! Lodging Händ Si no es freis Zimmer?  Do you still have a vacancy? Bis wänn söl ich mich abmälde?  When do I need to check out? Money Gäld / Baargäld, Stutz (coll.), Stütz (coll.)  cash, money. Isch Baargäld okei? Chan ich mit Baargäld bezale?  Is cash okay? Can I pay with cash? Was choschtet das?  how much is this/that? Z tüür! Too expensive! (might be very offensive!) Das isch mir e chli z'tüür  That seems to be rather expensive (more polite phrasing) Hät's no billigeres?  Do you have something cheaper? Chan ich mit Krédigcharte zahle?  Can I use my credit card? Trinkgäld  Tip Trinkgäld gää  Give a tip Ich nim das  I'll take/buy it Ich möcht öppis anders  I would like something else. Händ Si Suwniir(s)?  Do you have souvenirs? Wo chan ich Gäld wächsle?  Where can I change money? Wo isch de nòòggscht Bankomaat?  Where is the closest ATM? Eating En guete!  Enjoy your meal! Schoggi  Chocolate Proscht, Pröschtli, Prosit!  Cheers Herdöpfel / Erdöpfel  Potato(es) Rüebli  Carrot(s) E Stange, es Chliises  A small glass of beer En Chübel, es Groosses  A big glass of beer Es Glaas Wii  A glass of wine Es Glaas Roote (Wii)  A glass of red wine Es Glaas Wiisse (Wii)  A glass of white wine Oktoobertee  wine (slang/coll.) Chriesi  cherry/cherries Chueche/Flade  pie, cake Gipfeli  croissant(s) Milchkafi, Schale  cafe au lait Kafi grèèm  coffee Bier  beer Suufe  to drink beer/alcohol Schwiizer Chääs  Swiss cheese Rööschti  mashed, fried potatoes (a Swiss speciality) Fongdü  Fondue (melted Swiss cheese in a bowl, a Swiss speciality, usually eaten during winter-time only) Ragglèt  melted, roasted Swiss cheese (a Swiss speciality, usually eaten during winter-time only) Züri-Gschnätzlets  Cut veal, often served with Röschti, speciality of Zurich Ich würdi gärn e Schwiizer Spézialitäät probiere  I'd like to taste a Swiss speciality Was chönd Si mir èmpfääle?  Can you recommend something? En Apéritiv  a starter Shopping Poschte, iichaufe  Go shopping Schoppe  Shop around Wievil choschtet ...?  How much does ... cost? Gits en Rabatt? Gits en Ermäässigung?  Is there a discount? Wo häts ...?  Where can I find ...? Driving driving a car  Auto faare How do I get to the freeway/motorway?  Wie chum ich zur Autobaan? Gasoline/Petrol  Benziin driving license  Faaruswiis traffic rules  Verchersregle accident  Unfall police officer  Polizischt right-hand traffic/driving  Rächtsvercher (way of driving in Switzerland) Other Händ er de ... kaputt gmacht?  Did you destroy the ...? Gseet uus wi e gstorbeni Chatz  Looks like a dead cat. Mis Luftchüssiboot isch voller Aal  My hovercraft is full of eels. This phrasebook is an outline and needs more content. It has an introduction and a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!