What does “de Coiffeur” mean in Swiss German?

“de Coiffeur” means “hairdresser” in Swiss German. Example: Ich muess zum Coiffeur gah. — I need to go to the hairdresser.

What does “de Chäs” mean in Swiss German?

“de Chäs” means “cheese” in Swiss German. Example: De Chäs isch us de Schwiiz. — The cheese is from Switzerland.

What does “d Chatz” mean in Swiss German?

“d Chatz” means “cat” in Swiss German. Example: D Chatz schlaaft uf em Sofa. — The cat is sleeping on the sofa.

What does “s Büsi” mean in Swiss German?

“s Büsi” means “kitty / cat (informal)” in Swiss German. Example: S Büsi will usse gah. — The kitty wants to go outside.

What does “de Verspaatig” mean in Swiss German?

“de Verspaatig” means “delay” in Swiss German. Example: De Zug hät fööf Minute Verspaatig. — The train is five minutes late.

What does “s Büro” mean in Swiss German?

“s Büro” means “office” in Swiss German. Example: Ich bi hüt im Büro. — I'm at the office today.

What does “de Schnee” mean in Swiss German?

“de Schnee” means “snow” in Swiss German. Example: Es hät vill Schnee in de Bärge. — There's a lot of snow in the mountains.

What does “d Fasnacht” mean in Swiss German?

“d Fasnacht” means “carnival / Fasnacht” in Swiss German. Example: D Basler Fasnacht isch am beschte. — Basel's Fasnacht is the best.

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Swiss German A2 — Everyday Life (for English Speakers) Official

A2-level Swiss German (Zurich dialect) words and phrases with English translations, example sentences and pronunciation guides. Levels are approximate: Swiss German has no official CEFR framework, so each word inherits the level of its Standard German equivalent in the Goethe-Institut A1-B1 wordlists.

CEFR A2 — Elementary

At this level you can handle daily routines, describe your background. Vocabulary: ~1,200 words (cumulative).

Phrases you'll learn

What does “de Coiffeur” mean in Swiss German?: “de Coiffeur” means “hairdresser” in Swiss German. Example: Ich muess zum Coiffeur gah. — I need to go to the hairdresser.
What does “de Chäs” mean in Swiss German?: “de Chäs” means “cheese” in Swiss German. Example: De Chäs isch us de Schwiiz. — The cheese is from Switzerland.
What does “d Chatz” mean in Swiss German?: “d Chatz” means “cat” in Swiss German. Example: D Chatz schlaaft uf em Sofa. — The cat is sleeping on the sofa.
What does “s Büsi” mean in Swiss German?: “s Büsi” means “kitty / cat (informal)” in Swiss German. Example: S Büsi will usse gah. — The kitty wants to go outside.
What does “de Verspaatig” mean in Swiss German?: “de Verspaatig” means “delay” in Swiss German. Example: De Zug hät fööf Minute Verspaatig. — The train is five minutes late.
What does “s Büro” mean in Swiss German?: “s Büro” means “office” in Swiss German. Example: Ich bi hüt im Büro. — I'm at the office today.
What does “de Schnee” mean in Swiss German?: “de Schnee” means “snow” in Swiss German. Example: Es hät vill Schnee in de Bärge. — There's a lot of snow in the mountains.
What does “d Fasnacht” mean in Swiss German?: “d Fasnacht” means “carnival / Fasnacht” in Swiss German. Example: D Basler Fasnacht isch am beschte. — Basel's Fasnacht is the best.

Swiss German → English 22 words ~3 days at 10 words/day 1 download A2

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Word List — click grammar notes to expand

Word	Translation	Example
de Coiffeur Der Friseur (französisch!) — „zum Coiffeur gah“ = zum Friseur gehen. Die Schweiz liebt ihre Gallizismen!	hairdresser	Ich muess zum Coiffeur gah. I need to go to the hairdresser.
Pronounced: deh kwah-FUR (French origin). From French 'coiffeur'. Standard German: Friseur/Frisör. Used by both genders. Shows the strong French influence on Swiss German vocabulary.
gäbig Praktisch/bequem — ein herrlich schweizerisches Wort: „Das isch gäbig!“ = das ist praktisch!	convenient / handy / easy	Das isch mega gäbig! That's super convenient!
Pronounced: GEH-big (ä as in 'bed'). Uniquely Swiss German word with no direct Standard German equivalent. Means practical, convenient, easy to use. One of the most useful Swiss adjectives.
gruusig Eklig/scheusslich: „Das Wätter isch gruusig“ = das Wetter ist scheusslich; „gruusigs Ässe“ = ekliges Essen!	disgusting / terrible	Das Wätter isch gruusig. The weather is terrible.
Pronounced: GROO-zig. Also spelled 'grüsig'. Standard German: grausig/schrecklich. Can mean physically disgusting or generally terrible. 'Wätter' = Wetter (weather).
megainformal DER Schweizer Verstärker: „mega schön“, „mega fein“, „mega müed“ — mega alles!	very / super / really	Das isch mega cool! That's really cool!
Pronounced: MEH-gah. Used as an intensifier, like English 'super' or 'really'. Very common in informal Swiss German, especially among younger speakers. Standard German: sehr/total.
blööd Blöd/ärgerlich: „Das isch blööd gloffe“ = das ist dumm gelaufen — mit langem öö!	stupid / annoying	So blööd, ich ha de Bus verpasst. So annoying, I missed the bus.
Pronounced: BLURD (long ö like 'ur' in 'fur'). Standard German: blöd/dumm. 'Verpasst' = verpasst (missed). Long ö vowel is typical Zürich pronunciation. Used for situations and people.
eigetlich Eigentlich: „Eigetlich scho“ = eigentlich schon — die halbherzige Schweizer Zustimmung!	actually / really	Was wotsch eigetlich? What do you actually want?
Pronounced: EYE-get-likh (ch guttural). Standard German: eigentlich. Same usage but Swiss pronunciation drops the 'n'. Used to add nuance or redirect a conversation.
chalt Kalt — K→ch: „Es isch chalt hüt“ = es ist kalt heute.	cold	Hüt isch es huere chalt. It's really cold today.
Pronounced: KHAHLT (ch as strong guttural, like clearing throat). Standard German: kalt. The k→ch shift (Zweite Lautverschiebung) is the most distinctive Swiss German sound change. All initial k- becomes ch-: Kind→Chind, Käse→Chäs.
de Chäs Der Käse — Nationalstolz! Gruyère, Emmentaler, Appenzeller: „en feine Chäs“.	cheese	De Chäs isch us de Schwiiz. The cheese is from Switzerland.
Pronounced: deh KHES (ch guttural, ä as in 'bed'). Standard German: Käse. k→ch shift + loss of final -e. 'Us de Schwiiz' = aus der Schweiz (from Switzerland). Switzerland produces over 450 varieties of cheese.
d Chatz Die Katze — K→ch: „d Chatz vom Nachbar“ = die Katze des Nachbarn. Liebevoller: s Büsi! Synonyms: s Büsi	cat	D Chatz schlaaft uf em Sofa. The cat is sleeping on the sofa.
Pronounced: d KHAHTS (ch as strong guttural). Standard German: Katze. k→ch shift. 'Uf em' = auf dem (on the). Diminutive: 'Chätzli'. Also: 'Büsi' (cat, informal/baby talk, very Swiss).
s Büsiinformal Das Kätzchen/die Katze (liebevoll) — das Schweizer Kosewort für die Chatz! Synonyms: d Chatz	kitty / cat (informal)	S Büsi will usse gah. The kitty wants to go outside.
Pronounced: s BEW-zee (ü as 'ew'). Affectionate Swiss word for cat. No Standard German equivalent. 'Usse' = raus/nach draußen (outside). Children and adults both use it. Very typically Swiss.
öpper Jemand: „Isch öpper deheim?“ = ist jemand zu Hause?	somebody / someone	Hät öpper öppis gseit? Did somebody say something?
Pronounced: UR-per (ö like 'ur' in 'fur'). Standard German: jemand. Part of the öpp-family: öpper (someone), öppis (something), öppe (approximately), öppedie (sometimes). Unique to Swiss German.
öppis Etwas: „Wotsch öppis trinke?“ = willst du etwas trinken? Superhäufig!	something	Wotsch öppis esse? Do you want to eat something?
Pronounced: UR-pis (ö like 'ur' in 'fur'). Standard German: etwas. Very commonly used. 'Öppis Guets' = etwas Gutes (something good). Part of the distinctly Swiss öpp-series.
niemer Niemand: „Es isch niemer da“ = es ist niemand da.	nobody / no one	Es isch niemer dehai. Nobody is home.
Pronounced: NEE-mer. Standard German: niemand. 'Dehai' = daheim/zu Hause (at home). Related: 'nüüt' (nothing), 'niemer' (nobody), 'nie' (never).
sicher Sicher: „Ja sicher!“ = klar doch! „Bisch sicher?“ = bist du sicher?	sure / certainly / of course	Sicher, das mach ich gärn. Sure, I'll gladly do that.
Pronounced: ZIKH-er (ch guttural). Used as a confident affirmation. 'Gärn' = gerne (gladly). Often used alone as a response: 'Chasch cho?' — 'Sicher!' (Can you come? — Of course!).
genau „Genau!“ = exakt — funktioniert wie im Hochdeutschen, dauernd im Einsatz.	exactly / precisely	Genau, so han ich das au gmeint. Exactly, that's what I meant too.
Pronounced: geh-NOW (au as 'ow'). Same as Standard German. Used very frequently as a conversation filler and agreement marker. 'Gmeint' = gemeint (meant). 'Au' = auch (also).
wäge Wegen: „wäge em Wätter“ = wegen des Wetters; „wäge dem“ = deswegen.	because of	Wäge dem Wätter bliib ich dehai. Because of the weather I'm staying home.
Pronounced: VEH-geh (ä as in 'bed'). Standard German: wegen + genitive. Swiss German: 'wäge' + dative ('dem'). 'Bliib' = bleibe (stay). The dative after 'wäge' is standard in Swiss German (never genitive).
de Verspaatig Die Verspätung: „De Zug hät Verspaatig“ — in der Schweiz sind schon 3 Minuten ein Skandal!	delay	De Zug hät fööf Minute Verspaatig. The train is five minutes late.
Pronounced: deh fair-SHPAH-tig (long 'a'). Standard German: Verspätung. '-ig' ending instead of '-ung'. Swiss trains are very punctual — even a 3-minute delay is noteworthy. 'Hät' = hat.
s Büro Das Büro: „im Büro schaffe“ = im Büro arbeiten.	office	Ich bi hüt im Büro. I'm at the office today.
Pronounced: s bew-ROH (ü as 'ew'). Same as Standard German. 'Hüt' = heute (today). 'Im' = in dem. Swiss office culture values punctuality and efficiency. Open-plan offices are common.
de Schnee Der Schnee: „Es hät Schnee!“ = es liegt Schnee — ab in die Berge!	snow	Es hät vill Schnee in de Bärge. There's a lot of snow in the mountains.
Pronounced: deh SHNEH. Same as Standard German. 'Es hät' = es hat/gibt (there is). 'In de Bärge' = in den Bergen (in the mountains). Swiss Alps get heavy snowfall from November to April.
d Fasnacht Die Schweizer Fastnacht — Basel (mit Morgestraich um 4 Uhr!) und Luzern sind die Hochburgen!	carnival / Fasnacht	D Basler Fasnacht isch am beschte. Basel's Fasnacht is the best.
Pronounced: d FAHS-nakht (ch guttural). Pre-Lent carnival. Basel's Fasnacht (starts 4am on Monday after Ash Wednesday) is UNESCO heritage. Lucerne also famous. 'Am beschte' = am besten (the best).
de Chäller Der Keller — mit Chäller-Abteil für jede Wohnung: das Schweizer Stauraum-Paradies!	cellar / basement	D Velo stönd im Chäller. The bikes are in the cellar.
Pronounced: deh KHEL-ler (ch guttural, ä as in 'bed'). Standard German: Keller. k→ch shift. Swiss apartments usually include a cellar storage space. 'Stönd' = stehen (stand/are located). Plural: 'Chäller'.
d Glacé Das Speiseeis (französisch!): „e Glacé ässe“ = ein Eis essen — im Sommer am See! Synonyms: d Glace	ice cream (variant spelling)	E Chugele Glacé, bitte. One scoop of ice cream, please.
Pronounced: d GLAHS (French origin, rhymes with 'class'). Also spelled 'Glace'. 'E Chugele' = eine Kugel (one scoop). 'Chugele' with k→ch shift. Ice cream scoops counted as 'Chugele' (balls). A summer staple.

Swiss German A2 — Everyday Life (for English Speakers) Official

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Word List — click grammar notes to expand

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