Fifty Swiss German (Zurich dialect) phrases for your trip to Switzerland, as a five-day plan of ten a day: greetings and manners, café and restaurant, paying and shops, getting around and signs, hotel and help. Every card has a pronunciation respelling, a real example exchange and a tip on when to use it and what catches tourists out, plus a bonus group of numbers 1–10. About 10 minutes a day.
CEFR A1 — Beginner
At this level you can introduce yourself, order food, ask directions. Vocabulary: ~500 words (cumulative).
Phrases you'll learn
What does “Guete Aabig” mean in Swiss German?
“Guete Aabig” means “Good evening” in Swiss German. Example: Guete Aabig, händ Sie en Tisch für zwei? — Good evening, do you have a table for two?
What does “Chan ich verbii?” mean in Swiss German?
“Chan ich verbii?” means “Excuse me, can I get past?” in Swiss German. Example: Exgüsi, chan ich verbii? Ich mues use. — Excuse me, can I get past? I need to get off.
What does “Ja / Nei” mean in Swiss German?
“Ja / Nei” means “Yes / No” in Swiss German. Example: Wänd Sie no öppis? – Nei, merci. — Would you like anything else? – No, thanks.
What does “Reded Sie Änglisch?” mean in Swiss German?
“Reded Sie Änglisch?” means “Do you speak English?” in Swiss German. Example: Exgüsi, reded Sie Änglisch? – Ja, e chli. — Excuse me, do you speak English? – Yes, a little.
What does “Ich verstaa nöd” mean in Swiss German?
“Ich verstaa nöd” means “I don't understand” in Swiss German. Example: Ich verstaa nöd. Langsamer, bitte. — I don't understand. More slowly, please.
What does “Adieu / Uf Wiederluege” mean in Swiss German?
“Adieu / Uf Wiederluege” means “Goodbye” in Swiss German. Example: Merci, adieu! – Adieu, schöne Taag no! — Thanks, goodbye! – Bye, have a nice day!
What does “En Tisch für zwei, bitte” mean in Swiss German?
“En Tisch für zwei, bitte” means “A table for two, please” in Swiss German. Example: Grüezi, en Tisch für zwei, bitte. – Händ Sie reserviert? — Hello, a table for two, please. – Have you booked?
What does “Ich hätt gärn…” mean in Swiss German?
“Ich hätt gärn…” means “I'd like…” in Swiss German. Example: Ich hätt gärn e Rösti. Ich hätt gärn e Stange. — I'd like a rösti. I'd like a small draught beer.
Swiss German → English60 words~6 days at 10 words/day0 downloadsA1A2
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De Gruess für de ganz Tag: seisch en, wänn du in en Lade, es Café oder s Tram inechunnsch.
Synonyms:Grüezi mitenand, Guete Morge
Hello / Good day
Grüezi, en Kafi, bitte. – Grüezi, gärn.
Hello, a coffee, please. – Hello, of course.
Say it as you walk into any shop, café or tram, before anything else; to two or more people it becomes 'Grüezi mitenand', and hikers say it to everyone they pass on a trail. 'Hoi' and 'Sali' are for friends, and Standard German 'Guten Tag' marks you as a German tourist; many Swiss would rather switch to English than to Hochdeutsch, so Grüezi plus English is the winning combination. Stress the first syllable and say the 'z' as 'ts'.
Guete AabigA1
GOO-eh-teh AH-big
Gruess ab em spaate Namittag, wänn mer öpper trifft; bim Gah seit mer 'Schöne Aabig'.
Synonyms:Schöne Aabig
Good evening
Guete Aabig, händ Sie en Tisch für zwei?
Good evening, do you have a table for two?
From about five or six in the evening when you arrive somewhere; many Swiss simply keep saying 'Grüezi' all day, so it is optional. On the way out the phrase is 'Schöne Aabig' (have a nice evening), usually with 'no' tacked on. 'Guet Nacht' is only for going to bed, never for leaving a restaurant.
BitteA1
BIT-teh
Höflichkeitswort, wo mer a jedi Bitt anehänkt; heisst au 'gärn gscheh' und 'wie bitte?'.
Please
Es Wasser, bitte. – Bitte schön.
A water, please. – Here you are.
Goes at the end of the request, after a comma. The trap: 'bitte' is also the reply to 'Merci', 'here you are' as something is handed over ('bitte schön'), 'go ahead', and 'pardon?' as 'Bitte?' or 'Wie bitte?', so you will hear it constantly and it often does not mean please at all.
MerciA1
MER-see
So dankt mer i de Dütschschwiiz; d Antwort isch 'Bitte' oder 'Gärn gscheh'.
Synonyms:Merci vilmal, Danke
Thank you
Merci vilmal! – Bitte, gärn gscheh.
Thanks a lot! – You're welcome.
'Merci' (borrowed from French, but stressed on the first syllable, MER-see, not the French mer-SEE) is what everyone says; 'Danke' is understood but sounds German. 'Merci vilmal' is thanks a lot. The reply is 'Bitte' or 'Gärn gscheh' (gladly). The trap: a bare 'Merci' when someone offers you something means no thanks; to accept, say 'Ja, gärn'.
ExgüsiA1
eks-GEW-see
Wort, zum d Ufmerksamkeit vo öpperem hole oder sich churz entschuldige.
Synonyms:Entschuldigung, Sorry
Excuse me / Sorry
Exgüsi, chan ich bstelle?
Excuse me, can I order?
One word for catching a waiter's eye, stopping a stranger for directions and apologising for a small bump; 'Entschuldigung' works too, and you will hear plain 'Sorry' from younger Swiss all the time. For a real apology say 'Es tuet mer leid'. Swiss waiters do not hover: catch their eye and say this, then order.
Chan ich verbii?A1
khan ikh fer-BEE
Frag, wänn mer im Tram, i de Schlange oder i de Mänge dure will.
Synonyms:Dörf ich verbii?
Excuse me, can I get past?
Exgüsi, chan ich verbii? Ich mues use.
Excuse me, can I get past? I need to get off.
Swiss German has no special word for squeezing past: 'Exgüsi' alone gets you a glance, but this question makes people actually move on a packed tram, in a queue or at the market. On a bus or tram, 'Ich mues use' (I need to get off) does the job. Trams are quiet places; say it at normal volume, nobody shouts.
Ja / NeiA1
yah / nye
Die zwei Grundantworte; 'Nei, merci' lehnt höflich ab.
Yes / No
Wänd Sie no öppis? – Nei, merci.
Would you like anything else? – No, thanks.
'Nei, merci' is the polite full stop for street collectors, touts and shop assistants; 'Ja, gärn' accepts, because a bare 'Merci' in reply to an offer is taken as no. Zurich says 'Nei', which sounds like English 'nigh'; do not confuse it with 'nüün' (nine). 'Doch' is yes in answer to a negative question.
Reded Sie Änglisch?A1formal
REH-ded see ENG-lish
Frag, öb öpper Änglisch redt; höflichi Sie-Form.
Do you speak English?
Exgüsi, reded Sie Änglisch? – Ja, e chli.
Excuse me, do you speak English? – Yes, a little.
Asking in dialect first is the courtesy; almost everyone in Zurich then answers in good English. 'Sie' is the polite you, right for every stranger. The trap: if you answer in school German, people switch to Standard German (Hochdütsch), which they speak but do not love, so English is often the more relaxed choice for both sides. 'E chli' means a little.
Ich verstaa nödA1
ikh fer-SHTAH nerd (no r)
Satz, zum säge, dass mer nöd verstande hät, was gseit worde isch.
Synonyms:Wie bitte?
I don't understand
Ich verstaa nöd. Langsamer, bitte.
I don't understand. More slowly, please.
Pair it with 'Langsamer, bitte' (slower, please) or 'Wie bitte?' (pardon?). If you learned some German at school, ask 'Uf Hochdütsch, bitte?' and they will repeat it in Standard German, the language of every sign and menu here; the spoken dialect is the thing you will not follow, and locals know that.
Adieu / Uf WiederluegeA1
ah-DEE-eh / oof VEE-der-loo-eh-geh
Abschiedsgruess für Läde, Hotel und Lüüt, wo mer nöd kännt.
Synonyms:Ade, Tschüss
Goodbye
Merci, adieu! – Adieu, schöne Taag no!
Thanks, goodbye! – Bye, have a nice day!
'Adieu' (often clipped to 'Ade') is the everyday farewell for shops and strangers; 'Uf Wiederluege' is the fuller formal one. 'Tschüss' and 'Tschau' are informal, but staff say them too, so echo whatever you hear. Say it on the way out even if you bought nothing; the friendly extra you hear back is 'Schöne Taag no' (have a nice day).
En Tisch für zwei, bitteA1
en tish fewr tsvye, BIT-teh
Frag nach eme Tisch im Restaurant mit de Aazahl Persone.
A table for two, please
Grüezi, en Tisch für zwei, bitte. – Händ Sie reserviert?
Hello, a table for two, please. – Have you booked?
Pause at the door: in a 'Beiz' (the Swiss pub-restaurant) you may be waved to any free table, and in a busy one you may share a big table with strangers ('Isch da no frei?' asks whether a seat is free); smarter places seat you. Book ahead in Zurich for Friday and Saturday evenings. Swap 'zwei' for the number you need. Many restaurants have a weekly 'Ruhetag', often Sunday or Monday.
Ich hätt gärn…A1
ikh het gehrn
Höflichi Form zum Bstelle oder öppis Wünsche.
I'd like…
Ich hätt gärn e Rösti. Ich hätt gärn e Stange.
I'd like a rösti. I'd like a small draught beer.
'Ich hätt gärn' plus the item, 'bitte' at the end, is the polite order everywhere; once you know the menu, 'Ich nimm…' (I'll take) is what locals say. Avoid 'Ich will' (I want). Beer comes as 'e Stange' (0.3 l draught, the standard order) or 'es Grosses' (0.5 l). The little words 'en', 'e', 'es' mean 'a'; nobody minds if you pick the wrong one.
D Charte, bitteA1
d-KHAR-teh, BIT-teh
So verlangt mer d Spiischarte im Restaurant.
The menu, please
D Charte, bitte. Händ Sie e Charte uf Änglisch?
The menu, please. Do you have a menu in English?
The printed menu is in Standard German ('Speisekarte'), often with English in the city. The trap: 'Menü' means the set lunch ('Tagesmenü', 'Mittagsmenü'), which at CHF 18–25 with soup or salad is the best-value meal in Switzerland, usually weekdays only. 'Charte' also means map and card, so say 'Spiischarte' (or Standard German 'Speisekarte') if there is any doubt.
En Kafi, bitteA1
en KAH-fee, BIT-teh
En Kafi isch en normale Kafi crème; für Milchkafi seit mer 'e Schale'.
A coffee (= a 'Kafi crème'), please
En Kafi und e Schale, bitte.
A coffee and a milky coffee, please.
'En Kafi' gets you a 'Kafi crème': a normal-sized black coffee with a little pot of cream on the saucer, not filter coffee and not an espresso (say 'en Espresso' for that). A milky coffee in Zurich is 'e Schale' (half milk, from 'Schale', a bowl); 'Cappuccino' is universal. Budget about CHF 5 a cup, more at a lakeside terrace.
Mit oder ohni?A1
mit OH-der OH-nee
Frag zum Wasser im Restaurant: mit Kohlesüüri oder ohni.
Synonyms:Mit oder ohni Kohlesüüri?
Sparkling or still? (literally: with or without)
Wasser mit oder ohni? – Ohni, merci.
Sparkling or still water? – Still, thanks.
Asked whenever you order water: 'ohni' is still, 'mit' is sparkling, and you may hear the full 'Mit oder ohni Kohlesüüri?'. Bottled water costs CHF 5–9; tap water ('Hahnewasser') is excellent and you can ask for it, but many restaurants charge CHF 2–5 for a glass or carafe and a few frown, so ask the price. Answer with the one word and 'merci'.
Zahle, bitteA1
TSAH-leh, BIT-teh
So verlangt mer d Rächnig; si chunnt nöd vo sälber.
Synonyms:D Rächnig, bitte
The bill, please
Exgüsi, zahle bitte! – Zäme oder getrennt?
Excuse me, the bill please! – Together or separately?
The bill will not come until you ask: catch the waiter's eye and say 'Zahle, bitte' or 'D Rächnig, bitte'. You pay at the table, usually on a portable card terminal, and will be asked 'Zäme oder getrennt?' because paying separately per person is completely normal. Say the rounded-up total you want to pay as you hand over cash, or before they type it in (see the service card).
Chan ich mit Charte zahle?A2
khan ikh mit KHAR-teh TSAH-leh
Frag, öb mer mit Charte zahle cha.
Can I pay by card?
Chan ich mit Charte zahle? – Ja, sicher. Oder mit Twint.
Can I pay by card? – Yes, of course. Or with Twint.
Cards and the Swiss phone app Twint are accepted almost everywhere, even for a CHF 3 pastry, though a few market stalls and mountain huts are cash only. Prices are in Swiss francs (CHF), not euros; some shops and ticket machines take euro notes but give change in francs at a poor rate, so pay by card or take francs out of a 'Bancomat'. Twint is tied to a Swiss bank account or a Swiss mobile number, so it is not for visitors.
Proscht!A1
prohsht
Trinkspruch bim Aastosse; mer luegt sich debii i d Auge.
Synonyms:Zum Wohl
Cheers!
Proscht! – Zum Wohl!
Cheers! – To your health!
Clink glasses with every person at the table, look each one in the eye and say their name if you know it; skipping the eye contact is the thing Swiss friends will tease you about. 'Zum Wohl' is the more formal version, used with wine. Do not drink before the toast.
En Guete!A1
en GOO-eh-teh
Wunsch vor em Ässe; d Antwort isch 'Merci, gliichfalls'.
Enjoy your meal!
En Guete! – Merci, gliichfalls.
Enjoy your meal! – Thanks, you too.
Said by the waiter as the plates land and by everyone at your table before the first bite, also in a work canteen and to strangers eating near you; the reply is 'Merci, gliichfalls' (thanks, likewise). Wait for it before you start eating in company. Colleagues use it as a greeting around noon, the way Germans say 'Mahlzeit'.
Service inbegriffenA2
SER-vis in-beh-GRIF-fen
Hiiwiis uf de Charte: de Service isch scho im Priis; mer rundet nu es bitzli uf.
Synonyms:Bedienung inbegriffen
Service included (on the menu and bill)
Bedienung und MwSt. inbegriffen. – Stimmt so, merci.
Service and VAT included. – Keep the change, thanks.
The line to look for on a Swiss menu: service and VAT are always included in the prices, so there is no cover charge and no service line on the bill. Tipping is a small round-up for good service, 5–10% at most: say the total you want to pay ('Mached Sie füfzg', make it 50) or 'Stimmt so' (keep the change) as you hand over cash, or say it before the waiter types the amount into the card terminal; more and more terminals show a 'Trinkgeld?' prompt, and skipping it is fine. In dialect a tip is 'Trinkgäld'.
Was choschtet…?A1
vas KHOSH-tet
Frag nach em Priis vo öppisem.
Synonyms:Was macht das?
How much is…?
Was choschtet das? Was choschtet es Billett?
How much is this? How much is a ticket?
Frame: 'Was choschtet' plus the item, or just 'Was choschtet das?' while pointing; for several things, 'Was choschted die?'. At the till 'Was macht das?' asks for the total, answered like 'Zwölf vierzg' for CHF 12.40. Prices are in francs ('Franke', slang 'Stutz') and 'Rappe' (cents); cash totals are rounded to the nearest 5 Rappen.
Das isch z tüürA1
das ish ts-TEWR
Satz, zum säge, dass de Priis z hööch isch.
That's too expensive
Das isch z tüür. Trotzdem merci.
That's too expensive. Thanks anyway.
Prices are fixed everywhere; haggling in a shop or at a food market is rude, and only flea markets (Zurich's Bürkliplatz on Saturdays) allow a little bargaining. 'Trotzdem merci' lets you walk away politely. Everything here is expensive, plainly: a main course is CHF 25–40, a beer CHF 7, a sandwich CHF 10, so locals eat the 'Tagesmenü' at lunch and picnic from Coop or Migros, and so can you.
Bar oder mit Charte?A1
bahr OH-der mit KHAR-teh
Frag a de Kasse: bar zahle oder mit Charte.
Cash or card?
Bar oder mit Charte? – Mit Charte, merci.
Cash or card? – Card, thanks.
The question at every till; 'Twint?' is the third option you will hear, the Swiss phone payment app tied to a Swiss bank account or Swiss mobile number, so answer 'Mit Charte' or 'Bar'. Readers take foreign Visa, Mastercard and contactless phones without fuss. If you pay in euros where they are accepted, change comes back in francs; francs or card are always the better deal.
D Quittig, bitteA2
d-KVIT-tig, BIT-teh
De Zettel, wo mer nach em Zahle überchunnt.
The receipt, please
D Quittig, bitte. – Gärn, bitte schön.
The receipt, please. – Of course, here you are.
You are not obliged to take the receipt, and cashiers often ask 'Wänd Sie d Quittig?'; say 'Ja, bitte' for anything you might return or claim. The trap worth money: non-residents can reclaim the 8.1% VAT on purchases over CHF 300 in one shop; ask for the export form with the receipt and have it stamped at customs when you leave. Printed receipts say 'Quittung' or 'Kassenbon'.
Ich luege nu, merciA1
ikh LOO-eh-geh noo, MER-see
Höflichi Antwort im Lade, wänn mer nüt chaufe will.
I'm just looking, thanks
Chan ich Ine hälfe? – Ich luege nu, merci.
Can I help you? – I'm just looking, thanks.
The answer to 'Chan ich Ine hälfe?' or the classic 'Werded Sie scho bedient?' (are you being served?); staff will then leave you alone. 'Luege' is the Swiss word for to look, so this is exactly what locals say too. Say 'Grüezi' on the way in and 'Adieu' on the way out even if you buy nothing.
Das isch alles, merciA1
das ish AL-les, MER-see
Satz, zum säge, dass mer nüt meh will.
Synonyms:Das wär's
That's all, thanks
Suscht no öppis? – Nei, das isch alles, merci.
Anything else? – No, that's all, thanks.
Ends the order at a bakery, market stall or deli counter; 'Das wär's' is the local short form, and 'Suscht no öppis?' or 'Söll's no öppis sii?' (anything else?) is the question that prompts it. At a counter you order by weight, '200 Gramm', or by slices, 'zwei Schiibe'. 'Es Gipfeli' is a croissant, 'es Weggli' a soft roll.
Eis vo dene, bitteA1
ice fo DEH-neh, BIT-teh
Satz zum Bstelle, wänn mer uf öppis zeigt.
One of these, please
Eis vo dene, bitte. – Zum Mitnäh?
One of these, please. – To take away?
Pointing plus this phrase orders any pastry, sandwich or ticket; 'zwei vo dene' is two of them. The counter will ask 'Zum Mitnäh?' (to take away) or 'Zum daa ässe?' (to eat here); eating in is taxed higher, so the price can differ by a little. The '-li' ending you see everywhere (Gipfeli, Bierli, Züri) is the Swiss diminutive.
Händ Sie…?A1
hend see
Form, zum fröge, öb en Lade oder es Restaurant öppis hät.
Synonyms:Gits…?
Do you have…?
Händ Sie das e Nummere grösser? Händ Sie WLAN?
Do you have this one size bigger? Do you have Wi-Fi?
Frame: 'Händ Sie' plus the thing; 'Gits…?' (is there…?) does the same job. Wi-Fi is 'WLAN' (said VEH-lahn) on Swiss signs, though 'Wi-Fi' is understood. Clothing sizes follow the German scale (a UK 10 or US 6 is a Swiss 36; only shoe sizes match across Europe), so check the chart; 'e Nummere grösser / chliner' is one size up or down, and 'Händ Sie das au i…?' plus a colour asks for another colour.
Offen / GeschlossenA1
OF-fen / geh-SHLOS-sen
Die zwei Wörter uf de Ladetüür: offe oder zue.
Synonyms:Geöffnet
Open / Closed
Sonntag geschlossen. Mo–Fr 9–19 Uhr, Sa 9–17 Uhr.
Closed on Sunday. Mon–Fri 9 to 7, Sat 9 to 5.
The door signs are Standard German ('Offen' or 'Geöffnet', 'Geschlossen'); spoken, it is 'offe' and 'zue'. The trap: Sunday closing is strict, shops shut on Saturday around 17:00–18:00 and on weekdays around 19:00 or 20:00; on Sunday only the shops inside big stations (Zürich HB's ShopVille), the airport and petrol stations are open, so buy Sunday's food on Saturday. 'Ruhetag' on a restaurant door is its weekly closing day.
Aktion / KasseA1
ak-TSYOHN / KAS-seh
'Aktion' isch es Sonderaagebot; 'Kasse' isch, wo mer zahlt.
Synonyms:Ausverkauf
Special offer / Checkout
Aktion: 3 für 2. – Kasse drüü, bitte.
Special offer: 3 for 2. – Till three, please.
'Aktion' is the Coop and Migros word for a special offer and the label to hunt for on a tight budget; 'Ausverkauf' is a clearance sale, and fashion shops print the English 'Sale'. 'Kasse' is the till, also the ticket desk at museums; self-checkouts are everywhere in supermarkets. Over the loudspeaker, 'Kasse drüü, bitte' (staff announce in dialect) means another till is opening.
Wo isch…?A1
voh ish
Frag, wo öppis isch.
Where is…?
Wo isch de Bahnhof? Wo isch d Toilette?
Where is the station? Where is the toilet?
Frame: 'Wo isch' plus the place with its little article: 'de' (masculine), 'd' (feminine), 's' (neuter); start with 'Exgüsi'. For plural places use 'Wo sind…?'. The answer will use the three direction words: links, rächts, gradus, and very likely switch to English halfway through.
Wo isch d Toilette?A1
voh ish d-twa-LET-teh
Frag nach em WC.
Synonyms:s WC
Where is the toilet?
Exgüsi, wo isch d Toilette? – Hine rächts.
Excuse me, where is the toilet? – At the back on the right.
'Toilette' (French-style, stress on LET) and 'WC' (said veh-TSEH) are the words; doors say 'Damen' / 'Herren' or D / H. The trap: toilets at big stations cost CHF 1–2, and café toilets are for customers; Zurich city runs free public 'Züri WC' toilets, and department stores are the usual fallback.
Wo isch de Bahnhof?A1
voh ish deh BAHN-hohf
Frag nach em Bahnhof.
Where is the station?
Wo isch de Bahnhof? – Immer gradus, zäh Minute.
Where is the station? – Straight on, ten minutes.
'Bahnhof' is the railway station and 'HB' (Hauptbahnhof) the main one; Zürich HB sits under the city centre and its signs read SBB CFF FFS, the railway's name in three languages. 'S-Bahn' is the suburban train, 'Tram' the tram, 'Postauto' the yellow country bus. One timetable and one ticket system cover all of them, plus boats and mountain railways.
Es Billett uf Luzern, bitteA1
es bi-LET oof loo-TSERN, BIT-teh
Satz zum Billett Chaufe für e bestimmti Destination.
A ticket to Lucerne, please
Es Billett uf Luzern, bitte. – Eifach oder retour?
A ticket to Lucerne, please. – One way or return?
'Billett' (from French) is the Swiss word for ticket, and 'lösen' on posters means to buy one, not to loosen. 'Eifach' is one way, 'retour' return; machines have English, and the SBB Mobile app sells the same tickets or lets you swipe to check in ('EasyRide') before boarding. Trains are pricey: a Swiss Travel Pass or the one-month Swiss Half Fare Card pays for itself fast, and cheap 'Sparbillette' are tied to one specific train.
Weles Gleis?A1
VEH-les glice (rhymes with ice)
Frag, uf welem Gleis de Zug abfahrt.
Synonyms:Uf welem Gleis?
Which platform?
Weles Gleis für Bärn? – Gleis nüün.
Which platform for Bern? – Platform nine.
'Gleis' is the platform number on the departures board and on the platform signs; long platforms are split into sectors A to D, shown on the display next to your coach. The trap: Swiss trains leave to the second and doors lock about 30 seconds before departure, and connections are timed tight, so be on the platform early. Announcements are Standard German (and English in Zurich): 'Gleis drei' from the loudspeaker, 'Gleis drüü' from the person next to you.
Links / rächts / gradusA1
links / rekhts / grah-DOOS
Die drüü Richtigswörter i de Antwort uf 'Wo isch'.
Left / right / straight on
Immer gradus, dänn links.
Straight on, then left.
The three words in every answer to 'Wo isch'. 'Immer gradus' is keep straight, 'um d Egge' round the corner, 'vis-à-vis' (the French word, used by everyone) opposite, 'wiit' far, 'i de Nöchi' near. Swiss directions are precise and usually come with a walking time: 'föif Minute'.
Eingang / AusgangA1
EYEN-gang / OWS-gang
D Schilder für ine und use.
Entrance / Exit
Ausgang Bahnhofstrasse. Notausgang.
Exit to Bahnhofstrasse. Emergency exit.
The signs are Standard German; in dialect you hear 'Iigang' and 'Uusgang'. 'Notausgang' is the emergency exit, and on the motorway the exit is 'Ausfahrt'. In French-speaking Switzerland the same signs read 'Entrée / Sortie', in Ticino 'Entrata / Uscita'. 'Eintritt frei' means free admission.
Drücken / ZiehenA1
DREW-ken / TSEE-en
D zwei Wörter uf de Tüür: stosse (drucke) zum Ufmache, oder zieh.
Synonyms:Stossen
Push / Pull
Stossen. – Ziehen.
Push. – Pull.
The door words, as printed. The Swiss trap: many doors say 'Stossen' instead of 'Drücken' for push, spelled with 'ss' because Switzerland does not use the ß letter at all. Train and tram doors do not open by themselves: press the lit button, and on buses press the stop button or the driver may not stop.
Bitte Billett vor der Fahrt lösenA2
BIT-teh bi-LET for dehr fahrt LER-sen
Hiiwiis a de Haltestell: s Billett vor de Fahrt chaufe, suscht gits e Buess.
Please buy your ticket before boarding
Bitte Billett vor der Fahrt lösen. Kein Verkauf im Zug.
Please buy your ticket before the journey. No sales on the train.
Single tickets are never stamped in Switzerland: a machine or app ticket is valid from the moment you buy it (only paper multi-ride cards get stamped at the box on the ticket machine), and nothing is sold on board trains or trams, so you must hold a ticket before the doors close. Plain-clothes inspectors are frequent; riding without one costs a CHF 90 surcharge the first time, CHF 130 the second and CHF 160 from the third, plus the fare on top, and your name goes on a national register for two years. App tickets and EasyRide count, but check in before you board; a Swiss Travel Pass covers nearly everything.
HaltestelleA1
HAL-teh-shtel-leh
Wo Bus und Tram haltet; 'Nächster Halt' isch d Durchsag.
Stop (bus / tram)
Nächster Halt: Paradeplatz. Haltestelle Bellevue.
Next stop: Paradeplatz. Bellevue stop.
The sign at every bus and tram stop, with the stop name and a timetable that Swiss transport actually keeps. On board you hear the Standard German 'Nächster Halt' plus the stop name; in dialect the word is 'Haltestell'. Trams stop everywhere, but on buses press the stop button, and yellow 'Postauto' buses on country routes only stop where someone signals.
Ich ha e ReservationA1
ikh hah eh reh-ser-vah-TSYOHN
Satz a de Reception, wänn mer scho reserviert hät.
I have a reservation
Grüezi, ich ha e Reservation uf de Name Smith. – De Pass, bitte.
Hello, I have a reservation under Smith. – Your passport, please.
The check-in opener; 'uf de Name' plus your surname gives the name, and 'Reservation' (not the German 'Reservierung') is the Swiss word. The desk will ask for your passport and add a tourist tax ('Kurtaxe', roughly CHF 2–7 per person per night) to the bill; in many towns that buys a guest card with free local buses and trams, so ask for it.
De Schlüssel, bitteA1
deh SHLEWS-sel, BIT-teh
So verlangt mer de Zimmerschlüssel a de Reception.
The key, please
De Schlüssel, bitte. Zimmer zwölf.
The key, please. Room twelve.
Smaller hotels and 'Pensionen' keep keys at the desk: leave it when you go out and ask for it with 'Zimmer' plus the number when you come back. 'D Schlüsselcharte' is a key card. Note the sound: 'sch' before 'l', SHLEWS-sel, with the lips rounded for the 'ü'.
Was isch s WLAN-Passwort?A1
vas ish s VEH-lahn PASS-vort
Frag nach em Passwort für s WLAN.
What's the Wi-Fi password?
Was isch s WLAN-Passwort? – Es staat uf de Charte.
What's the Wi-Fi password? – It's written on the card.
'WLAN' (said VEH-lahn) is the word on Swiss signs, though 'Wi-Fi' is understood; 'Isch s WLAN gratis?' asks whether it is free. Big stations have free 'SBB-FREE' Wi-Fi, but most trains do not, so download maps and tickets before you board.
Wänn gits Zmorge?A1
venn gits ts-MOR-geh
Frag, wänn s im Hotel Zmorge git.
What time is breakfast?
Wänn gits Zmorge? – Vo sibni bis zähni.
What time is breakfast? – From seven to ten.
'Zmorge' is the Swiss word for breakfast (the hotel will write 'Frühstück'); the answer 'vo… bis…' gives the range, with the Swiss '-i' on clock times: 'sibni', 'zähni'. Expect bread, Gipfeli, cheese, cold cuts and Birchermüesli, which was invented in Zurich. The other question you need: 'Wänn isch Check-out?'.
Hilfe!A1
HIL-feh
Rüef im Notfall.
Help!
Hilfe! Rüefed Sie d Ambulanz!
Help! Call an ambulance!
Shout it; everyone understands. Emergency numbers: 112 works everywhere with English-speaking operators, or dial direct: 117 police, 144 ambulance, 118 fire, and 1414 for Rega, the helicopter rescue you want in the mountains. 'Haltet de Dieb!' (stop, thief!) if someone grabs a bag.
Ich bruuche en DokterA2
ikh BROO-kheh en DOK-ter
Satz, zum säge, dass mer en Arzt bruucht.
I need a doctor
Ich bruuche en Dokter. Mir isch schlächt.
I need a doctor. I feel sick.
'Ich bruuche' is I need; 'Spital' is the Swiss word for hospital and 'Notfall' its emergency department, or dial 144 for an ambulance. Swiss healthcare is excellent and expensive: a walk-in visit runs to hundreds of francs, so carry your insurance details (EU visitors, the EHIC card). For minor problems try the pharmacy first.
Wo isch d Apothek?A1
voh ish d-ah-po-TAYK
Frag nach de Apothek; s Zeiche isch es grüens Chrüüz.
Where is the pharmacy?
Wo isch d nöchscht Apothek?
Where is the nearest pharmacy?
Look for the green cross sign and 'Apotheke' on the shopfront (Amavita, Coop Vitality and Benu are chains). Pharmacists advise in English and sell many remedies without a prescription; unlike Germany, a 'Drogerie' here also sells basic painkillers. 'Notfallapotheke' or 'Notdienst' is the one open at night and on Sunday; Zurich has a 24-hour pharmacy at Bellevue.
Rüefed Sie bitte d PolizeiA2formal
REW-eh-fed see BIT-teh d-po-li-TSYE
Bitt, d Polizei z rüefe, bi Notfall oder Diebstahl.
Call the police, please
Rüefed Sie bitte d Polizei. Mer hät mis Portemonnaie gstohle.
Call the police, please. My wallet has been stolen.
Formal Sie request; 'rüefe' is to call. The direct police number is 117 (112 also works). For a stolen item you need a police report ('Anzeige') for insurance, made at any police station ('Stadtpolizei' in the city, 'Kantonspolizei' elsewhere); bring your passport. 'Portemonnaie' is the Swiss word for wallet.
Ich ha mi verlaufeA1
ikh hah mee fer-LOW-feh (ow as in cow)
Satz, zum säge, dass mer nöd weiss, wo mer isch.
I'm lost
Ich ha mi verlaufe. Wo isch de Paradeplatz?
I'm lost. Where is Paradeplatz?
No gendered forms. A trap for German learners: 'laufe' means to walk in Swiss German (not to run), so 'verlaufe' is lost on foot. Follow it with 'Wo isch…' and the place, or show the address on your phone; 'Isch es wiit?' (is it far?) gets a useful answer, and most people will simply switch to English and point you there.
Chönd Sie mir bitte es Taxi rüefe?A2formal
kernd see meer BIT-teh es TAK-see REW-eh-feh
Höflichi Bitt, es Taxi z rüefe.
Can you call a taxi, please?
Chönd Sie mir bitte es Taxi rüefe? – Sicher, wohi?
Can you call a taxi, please? – Of course, where to?
Formal 'Chönd Sie' (can you). Swiss taxis are among the world's most expensive: Zurich charges around CHF 6–8 to start plus about CHF 4 per kilometre, and airport to centre is CHF 60–70 versus about CHF 7 and ten minutes by train. Keep taxis for late nights or heavy luggage; ranks are at stations, Uber runs in Zurich, Basel and Geneva, and trams and trains run until after midnight, all night at weekends.
eisA1
ice
D Zahl 1.
one
Nur eis, merci.
Just one, thanks.
'Eis' when counting, pointing or answering on its own; before a noun it becomes 'en' (masculine), 'e' (feminine) or 'es' (neuter): en Kafi, e Stange, es Billett. Nobody minds if you pick the wrong one.
zweiA1
tsvye
D Zahl 2.
two
En Tisch für zwei, bitte.
A table for two, please.
'Z' is 'ts' and 'w' is 'v'. Zurich says 'zwei'; in Bern and much of the country you will hear 'zwöi'. 'Mir sind zu zweit' means there are two of us.
drüüA1
drew
D Zahl 3.
three
Gleis drüü.
Platform three.
The Swiss three sounds nothing like the German 'drei': a long 'ee' with rounded lips. The trap: loudspeaker announcements are in Standard German, so you hear 'Gleis drei' from the speaker and 'Gleis drüü' from the person next to you. 'Mir sind zu dritt' is there are three of us.
vierA1
feer
D Zahl 4.
four
Mir sind zu viert.
There are four of us.
Same as Standard German, with 'v' said as 'f'. 'Mir sind zu viert' tells a restaurant how many you are. 'Am vieri' is at four o'clock, and 'Zvieri' is the four o'clock snack every Swiss child and hiker takes.
föifA1
foyf
D Zahl 5.
five
Das macht föif Franke.
That's five francs.
Zurich 'föif', with an 'oy'-like sound; Bern says 'füüf'. 'Das macht' plus a price announces the total: 'föif Franke zwänzg' is CHF 5.20. Cash totals are rounded to the nearest 5 Rappen; card payments are exact.
sächsA1
sekhs
D Zahl 6.
six
Mir träffed eus am sächsi.
We'll meet at six.
The 'chs' is a throat sound plus 's'. Clock times take '-i' in speech: 'am sächsi' is at six, while timetables use the 24-hour clock, written with a dot in Switzerland: '18.00'.
sibeA1
SEE-beh
D Zahl 7.
seven
Zmorge gits ab sibni.
Breakfast is from seven.
'Sibe' when counting, 'am sibni' at seven o'clock, 'ab sibni' from seven. The trap for English ears: 'halbi acht' (half eight) means 7:30, not 8:30, because the Swiss count halfway to the next hour.
achtA1
akht
D Zahl 8.
eight
De Zug fahrt am achti.
The train leaves at eight.
Throat 'kh' at the end. 'Fahrt am achti' is leaves at eight. Swiss dinner is early, from six to eight, and kitchens in smaller towns close by nine, so a restaurant booking at eight is on the late side.
nüünA1
newn
D Zahl 9.
nine
Zimmer nüün.
Room nine.
A long 'ee' with the lips pushed forward. The classic mix-up: 'Nei' (no) sounds like English 'nine', while nine is 'nüün'. Room, bus and tram numbers are read as plain numbers.
zähA1
tseh
D Zahl 10.
ten
Zäh Minute z Fuess.
Ten minutes on foot.
'Z' is 'ts'. 'Z Fuess' is on foot; 'zäh Minute' is the answer you want to 'Isch es wiit?'. 'Zwänzg' is twenty, 'hundert' a hundred, and 21 to 99 are said backwards: 'vierezwänzg' is four-and-twenty, so CHF 24.50 is 'vierezwänzg füfzg'.