Swiss German A2 — Everyday Life (for English Speakers) Official
22 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).
Swiss German → English22 words~3 days at 10 words/day0 downloadsA2
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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
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
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).
mega
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
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
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
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
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
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 Büsi
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.