Swiss German — Daily Life (for English Speakers) Official
205 Swiss German (Züridütsch) words for daily life in Switzerland. Shopping, food, transport, social situations, and work with phonetic pronunciation guides and cultural context.
CEFR A2 — Elementary
At this level you can handle daily routines, describe your background. Vocabulary: ~1,200 words (cumulative).
Swiss German → English206 words~21 days at 10 words/day0 downloadsA2B1
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Ich muess no go poschte, mir händ nüüt meh im Chüelschrank.
I still need to go grocery shopping, we have nothing left in the fridge.
Pronounced: POSH-teh GAH. The go-construction: 'go poschte' = einkaufen gehen. 'Nüüt meh' = nichts mehr (nothing left). 'Chüelschrank' = Kühlschrank (fridge), with k→ch shift.
d Migros
Migros (supermarket chain)
Ich gah id Migros, bruuchsch öppis?
I'm going to Migros, do you need anything?
Pronounced: d MEE-gros. Switzerland's largest retailer. Known for NOT selling alcohol or tobacco. Has its own brands (M-Budget, Sélection). 'Bruuchsch' = brauchst du (do you need).
de Coop
Coop (supermarket chain)
Im Coop gits guete Wii.
At Coop there's good wine.
Pronounced: deh KOHP. Switzerland's second-largest supermarket chain. Unlike Migros, Coop sells alcohol. 'Gits' = gibt es (there is). 'Wii' = Wein (wine).
d Kasse
checkout / cash register
D Schlange an de Kasse isch lang.
The line at the checkout is long.
Pronounced: d KAHS-seh. 'D Schlange' = die Schlange (the queue/line). 'An de Kasse' = an der Kasse (at the checkout). Swiss queuing is orderly — cutting in line is very frowned upon.
de Priis
price
Was isch de Priis für das?
What is the price for this?
Pronounced: deh PREESS (long 'i'). Standard German: Preis. 'Priis' with long 'ii' is Zürich pronunciation. 'Für das' = dafür (for this). Swiss prices are generally higher than neighboring countries.
d Quittung
receipt
Bruuched Si d Quittung?
Do you need the receipt? (formal)
Pronounced: d KVIT-toong. Same as Standard German 'Quittung'. Also called 'de Kassezettel'. 'Bruuched Si' = brauchen Sie (do you need, formal). Cashiers always ask.
d Aktion
sale / special offer
Häsch gseh? S Poulet isch in de Aktion.
Did you see? The chicken is on sale.
Pronounced: d ahk-TSYOHN. FALSE FRIEND: 'Aktion' in Swiss German typically means a sale/discount, not 'action'. 'Häsch gseh?' = hast du gesehen? (did you see?). Migros and Coop have weekly Aktionen.
Bio
organic
Ich chaufe lieber Bio-Gmües.
I prefer to buy organic vegetables.
'Bio' = organic/biological. Switzerland has high organic food consumption. 'Gmües' = Gemüse (vegetables). 'Lieber' = preferably. Bio products have 'Bio Suisse' (Knospe) label.
d Tüüte
bag (plastic/paper)
Bruuchsch e Tüüte? — Nei, ich ha en Sack.
Do you need a bag? — No, I have a bag.
Pronounced: d TEWT-eh (long ü as 'ew'). 'Tüüte' and 'Sack' both mean bag. 'Nei' = nein (no). Swiss shops charge for plastic bags. Bring your own reusable bag ('Mehrwägsack').
d Cumulus-Charte
Migros loyalty card
Häsch dini Cumulus-Charte?
Do you have your Cumulus card?
Pronounced: d KOO-moo-loos KHAR-teh (ch guttural). Migros loyalty program. Coop's equivalent is 'Supercard'. 'Dini' = deine (your). Cashiers ask 'Cumulus?' at every Migros checkout.
barzahle
to pay cash
Ich zahle bar, häsch Wächselgäld?
I'm paying cash, do you have change?
Pronounced: BAR-tsah-leh. 'Bar' = cash. 'Wächselgäld' = Wechselgeld (change). Switzerland uses cash more than many European countries. 'Zahle' = zahlen (to pay).
d Charte
card (payment)
Chan ich mit de Charte zahle?
Can I pay by card?
Pronounced: d KHAR-teh (ch as strong guttural). Standard German: Karte. k→ch shift. Most Swiss shops accept debit cards (Maestro/Debit Mastercard). Contactless (TWINT app) is increasingly popular.
s Münz
coin / coins
Häsch Münz für de Wage?
Do you have coins for the cart?
Pronounced: s MEWNTS (ü as 'ew'). Standard German: Münze. 'De Wage' = der Wagen (shopping cart). Swiss shopping carts often need a 1 or 2 franc coin. 'Münz' is uncountable in Swiss German.
de Märt
market
Am Samschtig gömer uf de Märt.
On Saturday we go to the market.
Pronounced: deh MAIRT (ä as in 'air'). Standard German: Markt. Weekly farmers' markets are common in Swiss cities. 'Am Samschtig' = am Samstag (on Saturday). Fresh local produce.
s Sonderangebot
special offer
Das isch es Sonderangebot, nur hüt.
That's a special offer, today only.
Pronounced: s ZON-der-ahn-geh-boht. Same as Standard German. 'Nur hüt' = nur heute (today only). Migros and Coop cycle through weekly specials. Check the 'Aktion' section.
iichaufe
to shop / to buy things
Ich gah am Samschtig go iichaufe.
I'm going shopping on Saturday.
Pronounced: EE-khow-feh (ch guttural, au as 'ow'). Standard German: einkaufen. 'Ii' = ein (prefix). More general than 'poschte' (groceries) — can be clothes, electronics, etc. Go-construction: 'go iichaufe'.
de Lade
shop / store
De Lade macht um achti uuf.
The shop opens at eight.
Pronounced: deh LAH-deh. Standard German: Laden. 'Macht uuf' = macht auf (opens). 'Achti' = acht Uhr (eight o'clock). Swiss shops: typically 8/9am-6:30/7pm, shorter on Saturday.
de Chiosk
kiosk / convenience store
Am Chiosk chaufsch Zigarette und Ziittige.
At the kiosk you buy cigarettes and newspapers.
Pronounced: deh KHEE-osk (ch guttural). k→ch shift: Kiosk→Chiosk. Swiss kiosks (Kiosk, Avec, k kiosk) sell newspapers, snacks, drinks, transit tickets. Often at train stations. 'Ziittige' = Zeitungen.
gnueg
enough
Mir händ gnueg Brot.
We have enough bread.
Pronounced: g-NOOG. Standard German: genug. 'Händ' = haben (wir-form). 'Gnueg' with the typical Swiss g- prefix. Used in shopping: 'Isch das gnueg?' (Is that enough?).
s Wächselgäld
change (money)
Ich ha keis Wächselgäld.
I don't have any change.
Pronounced: s VEKH-sel-geld (ä as in 'bed'). Standard German: Wechselgeld. 'Keis' = kein (neuter). Useful at markets and small shops. Swiss coins: 5, 10, 20, 50 Rappen; 1, 2, 5 Franken.