What does “s Rüebli” mean in Swiss German?

“s Rüebli” means “carrot” in Swiss German. Example: Rüeblitorte isch typisch Schwiizerisch. — Carrot cake is typically Swiss.

What does “d Beiz” mean in Swiss German?

“d Beiz” means “pub / bar / restaurant” in Swiss German. Example: Gömer hüt in d Beiz? — Shall we go to the pub today?

What does “d Quittung” mean in Swiss German?

“d Quittung” means “receipt” in Swiss German. Example: Bruuched Si d Quittung? — Do you need the receipt? (formal)

What does “d Aktion” mean in Swiss German?

“d Aktion” means “sale / special offer” in Swiss German. Example: Häsch gseh? S Poulet isch in de Aktion. — Did you see? The chicken is on sale.

What does “de Stau” mean in Swiss German?

“de Stau” means “traffic jam” in Swiss German. Example: Uf de Autobahn isch Stau. — There's a traffic jam on the highway.

What does “d Sitzig” mean in Swiss German?

“d Sitzig” means “meeting” in Swiss German. Example: Ich ha no e Sitzig am Namittag. — I have another meeting in the afternoon.

What does “d Lehre” mean in Swiss German?

“d Lehre” means “apprenticeship” in Swiss German. Example: Si macht e Lehre als Chöchin. — She's doing an apprenticeship as a cook.

What does “de Näbel” mean in Swiss German?

“de Näbel” means “fog” in Swiss German. Example: Im Herbscht gits vill Näbel. — In autumn there's a lot of fog.

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Swiss German B1 — Conversation & Daily Life (for English Speakers) Official

B1-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 B1 — Intermediate

At this level you can discuss opinions, travel independently, describe experiences. Vocabulary: ~2,500 words (cumulative).

Phrases you'll learn

What does “s Rüebli” mean in Swiss German?: “s Rüebli” means “carrot” in Swiss German. Example: Rüeblitorte isch typisch Schwiizerisch. — Carrot cake is typically Swiss.
What does “d Beiz” mean in Swiss German?: “d Beiz” means “pub / bar / restaurant” in Swiss German. Example: Gömer hüt in d Beiz? — Shall we go to the pub today?
What does “d Quittung” mean in Swiss German?: “d Quittung” means “receipt” in Swiss German. Example: Bruuched Si d Quittung? — Do you need the receipt? (formal)
What does “d Aktion” mean in Swiss German?: “d Aktion” means “sale / special offer” in Swiss German. Example: Häsch gseh? S Poulet isch in de Aktion. — Did you see? The chicken is on sale.
What does “de Stau” mean in Swiss German?: “de Stau” means “traffic jam” in Swiss German. Example: Uf de Autobahn isch Stau. — There's a traffic jam on the highway.
What does “d Sitzig” mean in Swiss German?: “d Sitzig” means “meeting” in Swiss German. Example: Ich ha no e Sitzig am Namittag. — I have another meeting in the afternoon.
What does “d Lehre” mean in Swiss German?: “d Lehre” means “apprenticeship” in Swiss German. Example: Si macht e Lehre als Chöchin. — She's doing an apprenticeship as a cook.
What does “de Näbel” mean in Swiss German?: “de Näbel” means “fog” in Swiss German. Example: Im Herbscht gits vill Näbel. — In autumn there's a lot of fog.

Swiss German → English 21 words ~3 days at 10 words/day 1 download B1

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Word List — click grammar notes to expand

Word	Translation	Example
Proscht „Proscht!“ oder „Proscht mitenand!“ — beim Anstossen. Wichtig: dabei in die Augen schauen!	cheers!	Proscht, uf eusi Gsundheit! Cheers, to our health!
Pronounced: PROSHT. From Latin 'prosit'. Used when clinking glasses. Important: maintain eye contact while saying Proscht — it's considered rude not to. 'Eusi' = unsere (our).
probiere Probieren: „Probier emal!“ = probier mal! — beim Chäs-Stand auf dem Märt.	to try	Wotsch mol probiere? Do you want to try?
Pronounced: pro-BEER-eh. Same as Standard German 'probieren'. Often used for tasting food: 'Wotsch probiere?' at a market stall. 'Mol' = mal (softener, once).
s Rüebli Die Karotte — berühmt durch die Rüeblitorte aus dem Aargau (dem „Rüebliland“)!	carrot	Rüeblitorte isch typisch Schwiizerisch. Carrot cake is typically Swiss.
Pronounced: s REWB-lee (ü as 'ew'). Standard German: Karotte/Möhre. The -li diminutive suffix is typical Swiss German. Rüeblitorte (carrot cake) is a classic Swiss dessert.
d Beiz Das einfache, gemütliche Restaurant/die Kneipe: „i d Beiz gah“ — die Schweizer Institution für Feierabend und Stammtisch!	pub / bar / restaurant	Gömer hüt in d Beiz? Shall we go to the pub today?
Pronounced: d BYTES. Standard German: Kneipe/Gaststätte. 'Gömer' = gehen wir (shall we go). A Beiz is typically a casual, cozy neighborhood restaurant or bar.
fein Lecker! DAS Schweizer Wort fürs Essen: „Das isch fein!“ = das schmeckt gut — nicht „lecker“ sagen, das klingt deutsch!	tasty / delicious	Das Ässe isch fein gsi. The food was delicious.
Pronounced: FYNE (ei as 'eye'). In Swiss German 'fein' primarily means tasty/delicious (Standard German: lecker). 'Gsi' = gewesen (been). Used constantly for food: 'Das isch fein!' (That's yummy!).
gschpässig Seltsam/komisch: „en gschpässige Typ“ = ein komischer Typ — schönes Zürcher Wort!	strange / funny / odd	Das isch e gschpässigi Gschicht. That's a strange story.
Pronounced: g-SHPES-sig. Standard German: komisch/spaßig. Can mean funny-strange or funny-humorous depending on context. 'Gschicht' = Geschichte (story). '-igi' is feminine adjective ending.
glustig Appetit machend / gluschtig: „Das gseht glustig us!“ = das sieht verlockend aus! Vom „Glust“ = die Lust/der Appetit.	craving / curious / tempted	Ich bi glustig uf e Glace. I'm craving an ice cream.
Pronounced: GLOOSS-tig. Uniquely Swiss German. 'Glustig uf' = having a craving for. 'Glace' = Eis/Eiscreme (ice cream, from French 'glace'). No Standard German equivalent.
strub Wild/heftig/streng: „e strube Wuche“ = eine strenge Woche; „Das isch strub!“ = das ist heftig!	wild / hectic / intense	S isch en strube Taag gsi. It was a hectic day.
Pronounced: SHTROOP. Uniquely Swiss German. Can describe weather (stormy), a situation (hectic), or hair (wild/messy). 'En strube' = masculine adjective with article.
gmüetlich Gemütlich: „en gmüetliche Oobe“ = ein gemütlicher Abend — in der Beiz mit Fondue!	cozy / comfortable / pleasant	Dini Wohnig isch mega gmüetlich. Your apartment is really cozy.
Pronounced: g-MEWT-likh (ü as 'ew', ch guttural). Standard German: gemütlich. A core cultural concept in Swiss/German life. 'Dini' = deine (your, feminine). Describes warm, comfortable atmospheres.
lässiginformal Cool/toll: „Das isch lässig!“ = das ist super! — der Schweizer Allzweck-Daumen-hoch.	cool / nice / awesome	Das isch lässig, merci! That's cool, thanks!
Pronounced: LES-sig. In Swiss German 'lässig' is very positive (cool/great). In Standard German it means 'casual/laid-back'. Common compliment and expression of approval.
öppe Ungefähr: „öppe zäh Minute“ = etwa zehn Minuten — nicht mit öppis (etwas) verwechseln!	approximately / about / roughly	S sind öppe zwänzg Lüüt cho. About twenty people came.
Pronounced: UR-peh (ö like 'ur' in 'fur'). Standard German: etwa/ungefähr. 'Öppe' is distinctly Swiss. Related: 'öpper' (somebody), 'öppis' (something), 'öppedie' (sometimes).
Halt „Es isch halt eso“ = es ist nun mal so — die resignierte Schweizer Weisheit.	just / simply (filler)	S isch halt Züri. That's just Zurich (for you).
Pronounced: HAHLT. Discourse particle indicating something is inevitable or accepted. Standard German also uses 'halt'. Often combined: 'Das isch halt eifach so' (That's just how it is).
d Quittung Die Quittung: „Wänd Sie d Quittung?“ = möchten Sie den Kassenbon?	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 SCHWEIZER WORT: „i de Aktion“ = im Sonderangebot! „Är isch i de Aktion“ — der Klassiker im Migros-Prospekt.	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.
de Stau Der Stau: „Stau am Gotthard“ — zu Ferienbeginn legendäre 10+ Kilometer!	traffic jam	Uf de Autobahn isch Stau. There's a traffic jam on the highway.
Pronounced: deh SHTOW (au as 'ow'). Same as Standard German. 'Uf de Autobahn' = auf der Autobahn. Swiss highways require a Vignette (annual toll sticker, ~40 CHF). Gotthard tunnel jams are legendary.
d Sitzig Die Sitzung — Sitzung→Sitzig: „Ich ha di ganz Ziit Sitzige“ = ich habe dauernd Meetings!	meeting	Ich ha no e Sitzig am Namittag. I have another meeting in the afternoon.
Pronounced: d ZIT-sig. Standard German: Sitzung. Swiss German '-ig' ending. 'Am Namittag' = am Nachmittag (in the afternoon). 'No' = noch (still/another). Swiss meetings start on time.
d Lehre Die Berufslehre: „e Lehre mache“ = eine Ausbildung machen — 3-4 Jahre Betrieb + Berufsschule, weltweit bewundert!	apprenticeship	Si macht e Lehre als Chöchin. She's doing an apprenticeship as a cook.
Pronounced: d LEH-reh. Switzerland's famous dual education system. About 2/3 of Swiss youth do apprenticeships. 'Chöchin' = Köchin (female cook), k→ch shift. Apprenticeships are highly respected.
de Näbel Der Nebel — im Mittelland liegt im Herbst wochenlang Hochnebel; oben auf dem Berg: Sonne!	fog	Im Herbscht gits vill Näbel. In autumn there's a lot of fog.
Pronounced: deh NEH-bel (ä as in 'bed'). Standard German: Nebel. The Swiss Plateau ('Mittelland') is notorious for persistent autumn/winter fog ('Hochnebel'). 'Herbscht' = Herbst (autumn). People escape to the mountains for sun.
de Abwart SCHWEIZER WORT: der Hauswart/Hausmeister — wacht über Waschküche und Hausordnung!	building caretaker / janitor	Frog de Abwart, er weiss Bescheid. Ask the caretaker, he knows.
Pronounced: deh AHP-vart. Important person in Swiss apartment buildings. Manages maintenance, cleaning, and rules. 'Bescheid wüsse' = to be informed. The Abwart enforces quiet hours and recycling rules.
de Kanton Der Kanton — 26 Stück, jeder mit eigener Schule, Steuer und Stolz: „In welem Kanton wohnsch?“	canton (Swiss state)	D Schwiiz hät 26 Kantön. Switzerland has 26 cantons.
Pronounced: deh kahn-TOHN. Switzerland's federal states. Each canton has its own constitution, government, and laws. 'Kantön' = plural. Zurich is both a city and a canton. Cantons have significant autonomy.
s Dessert Das Dessert (französisch!): „Was nämed Sie als Dessert?“ — Meräng mit Rahm!	dessert	Nämed er no es Dessert? Would you like a dessert?
Pronounced: s deh-SAIR (French origin). Same as Standard German but with French pronunciation (day-SAIR). 'Nämed er' = nehmen Sie (formal, would you take). 'No' = noch (still/also). Common Swiss desserts: Meringue, Tiramisù, Coupe.

Swiss German B1 — Conversation & Daily Life (for English Speakers) Official

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Word List — click grammar notes to expand

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