Swiss German Trip Kit50 Swiss German phrases for your trip, with pronunciation

Greet, thank, apologise, get attention, admit you don't understand.

1. Grüezi GREW-eh-tsee
   Hello / Good day
   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'.
   Grüezi, en Kafi, bitte. – Grüezi, gärn. — Hello, a coffee, please. – Hello, of course.
2. Guete Aabig GOO-eh-teh AH-big
   Good evening
   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.
   Guete Aabig, händ Sie en Tisch für zwei? — Good evening, do you have a table for two?
3. Bitte BIT-teh
   Please
   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.
   Es Wasser, bitte. – Bitte schön. — A water, please. – Here you are.
4. Merci MER-see
   Thank you
   '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'.
   Merci vilmal! – Bitte, gärn gscheh. — Thanks a lot! – You're welcome.
5. Exgüsi eks-GEW-see
   Excuse me / Sorry
   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.
   Exgüsi, chan ich bstelle? — Excuse me, can I order?
6. Chan ich verbii? khan ikh fer-BEE
   Excuse me, can I get past?
   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.
   Exgüsi, chan ich verbii? Ich mues use. — Excuse me, can I get past? I need to get off.
7. Ja / Nei yah / nye
   Yes / No
   '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.
   Wänd Sie no öppis? – Nei, merci. — Would you like anything else? – No, thanks.
8. Reded Sie Änglisch? REH-ded see ENG-lish formal
   Do you speak English?
   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.
   Exgüsi, reded Sie Änglisch? – Ja, e chli. — Excuse me, do you speak English? – Yes, a little.
9. Ich verstaa nöd ikh fer-SHTAH nerd (no r)
   I don't understand
   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.
   Ich verstaa nöd. Langsamer, bitte. — I don't understand. More slowly, please.
10. Adieu / Uf Wiederluege ah-DEE-eh / oof VEE-der-loo-eh-geh
    Goodbye
    '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).
    Merci, adieu! – Adieu, schöne Taag no! — Thanks, goodbye! – Bye, have a nice day!

Get a table, order, pay, be polite about food.

1. En Tisch für zwei, bitte en tish fewr tsvye, BIT-teh
   A table for two, please
   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.
   Grüezi, en Tisch für zwei, bitte. – Händ Sie reserviert? — Hello, a table for two, please. – Have you booked?
2. Ich hätt gärn… ikh het gehrn frame
   I'd like…
   '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.
   Ich hätt gärn e Rösti. Ich hätt gärn e Stange. — I'd like a rösti. I'd like a small draught beer.
3. D Charte, bitte d-KHAR-teh, BIT-teh
   The menu, please
   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.
   D Charte, bitte. Händ Sie e Charte uf Änglisch? — The menu, please. Do you have a menu in English?
4. En Kafi, bitte en KAH-fee, BIT-teh
   A coffee (= a 'Kafi crème'), 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.
   En Kafi und e Schale, bitte. — A coffee and a milky coffee, please.
5. Mit oder ohni? mit OH-der OH-nee
   Sparkling or still? (literally: with or without)
   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'.
   Wasser mit oder ohni? – Ohni, merci. — Sparkling or still water? – Still, thanks.
6. Zahle, bitte TSAH-leh, BIT-teh
   The bill, please
   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).
   Exgüsi, zahle bitte! – Zäme oder getrennt? — Excuse me, the bill please! – Together or separately?
7. Chan ich mit Charte zahle? khan ikh mit KHAR-teh TSAH-leh
   Can I pay by card?
   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.
   Chan ich mit Charte zahle? – Ja, sicher. Oder mit Twint. — Can I pay by card? – Yes, of course. Or with Twint.
8. Proscht! prohsht
   Cheers!
   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.
   Proscht! – Zum Wohl! — Cheers! – To your health!
9. En Guete! en GOO-eh-teh
   Enjoy your meal!
   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'.
   En Guete! – Merci, gliichfalls. — Enjoy your meal! – Thanks, you too.
10. Service inbegriffen SER-vis in-beh-GRIF-fen sign
    Service included (on the menu and bill)
    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'.
    Bedienung und MwSt. inbegriffen. – Stimmt so, merci. — Service and VAT included. – Keep the change, thanks.

Ask prices, pay, browse without buying, read the two signs that matter.

1. Was choschtet…? vas KHOSH-tet frame
   How much is…?
   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.
   Was choschtet das? Was choschtet es Billett? — How much is this? How much is a ticket?
2. Das isch z tüür das ish ts-TEWR
   That's too expensive
   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.
   Das isch z tüür. Trotzdem merci. — That's too expensive. Thanks anyway.
3. Bar oder mit Charte? bahr OH-der mit KHAR-teh
   Cash or card?
   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.
   Bar oder mit Charte? – Mit Charte, merci. — Cash or card? – Card, thanks.
4. D Quittig, bitte d-KVIT-tig, BIT-teh
   The receipt, please
   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'.
   D Quittig, bitte. – Gärn, bitte schön. — The receipt, please. – Of course, here you are.
5. Ich luege nu, merci ikh LOO-eh-geh noo, MER-see
   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.
   Chan ich Ine hälfe? – Ich luege nu, merci. — Can I help you? – I'm just looking, thanks.
6. Das isch alles, merci das ish AL-les, MER-see
   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.
   Suscht no öppis? – Nei, das isch alles, merci. — Anything else? – No, that's all, thanks.
7. Eis vo dene, bitte ice fo DEH-neh, BIT-teh
   One of these, please
   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.
   Eis vo dene, bitte. – Zum Mitnäh? — One of these, please. – To take away?
8. Händ Sie…? hend see frame
   Do you have…?
   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.
   Händ Sie das e Nummere grösser? Händ Sie WLAN? — Do you have this one size bigger? Do you have Wi-Fi?
9. Offen / Geschlossen OF-fen / geh-SHLOS-sen sign
   Open / Closed
   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.
   Sonntag geschlossen. Mo–Fr 9–19 Uhr, Sa 9–17 Uhr. — Closed on Sunday. Mon–Fri 9 to 7, Sat 9 to 5.
10. Aktion / Kasse ak-TSYOHN / KAS-seh sign
    Special offer / Checkout
    '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.
    Aktion: 3 für 2. – Kasse drüü, bitte. — Special offer: 3 for 2. – Till three, please.

Find things, buy a ticket, read the signs you walk past.

1. Wo isch…? voh ish frame
   Where is…?
   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 de Bahnhof? Wo isch d Toilette? — Where is the station? Where is the toilet?
2. Wo isch d Toilette? voh ish d-twa-LET-teh
   Where is the toilet?
   '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.
   Exgüsi, wo isch d Toilette? – Hine rächts. — Excuse me, where is the toilet? – At the back on the right.
3. Wo isch de Bahnhof? voh ish deh BAHN-hohf
   Where is the station?
   '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.
   Wo isch de Bahnhof? – Immer gradus, zäh Minute. — Where is the station? – Straight on, ten minutes.
4. Es Billett uf Luzern, bitte es bi-LET oof loo-TSERN, BIT-teh
   A ticket to Lucerne, please
   '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.
   Es Billett uf Luzern, bitte. – Eifach oder retour? — A ticket to Lucerne, please. – One way or return?
5. Weles Gleis? VEH-les glice (rhymes with ice)
   Which platform?
   '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.
   Weles Gleis für Bärn? – Gleis nüün. — Which platform for Bern? – Platform nine.
6. Links / rächts / gradus links / rekhts / grah-DOOS
   Left / right / straight on
   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'.
   Immer gradus, dänn links. — Straight on, then left.
7. Eingang / Ausgang EYEN-gang / OWS-gang sign
   Entrance / 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.
   Ausgang Bahnhofstrasse. Notausgang. — Exit to Bahnhofstrasse. Emergency exit.
8. Drücken / Ziehen DREW-ken / TSEE-en sign
   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.
   Stossen. – Ziehen. — Push. – Pull.
9. Bitte Billett vor der Fahrt lösen BIT-teh bi-LET for dehr fahrt LER-sen sign
   Please buy your ticket before boarding
   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.
   Bitte Billett vor der Fahrt lösen. Kein Verkauf im Zug. — Please buy your ticket before the journey. No sales on the train.
10. Haltestelle HAL-teh-shtel-leh sign
    Stop (bus / tram)
    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.
    Nächster Halt: Paradeplatz. Haltestelle Bellevue. — Next stop: Paradeplatz. Bellevue stop.

Check in, get online, and get help when something goes wrong.

1. Ich ha e Reservation ikh hah eh reh-ser-vah-TSYOHN
   I have a reservation
   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.
   Grüezi, ich ha e Reservation uf de Name Smith. – De Pass, bitte. — Hello, I have a reservation under Smith. – Your passport, please.
2. De Schlüssel, bitte deh SHLEWS-sel, BIT-teh
   The key, please
   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'.
   De Schlüssel, bitte. Zimmer zwölf. — The key, please. Room twelve.
3. Was isch s WLAN-Passwort? vas ish s VEH-lahn PASS-vort
   What's the Wi-Fi password?
   '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.
   Was isch s WLAN-Passwort? – Es staat uf de Charte. — What's the Wi-Fi password? – It's written on the card.
4. Wänn gits Zmorge? venn gits ts-MOR-geh
   What time is breakfast?
   '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?'.
   Wänn gits Zmorge? – Vo sibni bis zähni. — What time is breakfast? – From seven to ten.
5. Hilfe! HIL-feh
   Help!
   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.
   Hilfe! Rüefed Sie d Ambulanz! — Help! Call an ambulance!
6. Ich bruuche en Dokter ikh BROO-kheh en DOK-ter
   I need a doctor
   '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.
   Ich bruuche en Dokter. Mir isch schlächt. — I need a doctor. I feel sick.
7. Wo isch d Apothek? voh ish d-ah-po-TAYK
   Where is the 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.
   Wo isch d nöchscht Apothek? — Where is the nearest pharmacy?
8. Rüefed Sie bitte d Polizei REW-eh-fed see BIT-teh d-po-li-TSYE formal
   Call the police, please
   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.
   Rüefed Sie bitte d Polizei. Mer hät mis Portemonnaie gstohle. — Call the police, please. My wallet has been stolen.
9. Ich ha mi verlaufe ikh hah mee fer-LOW-feh (ow as in cow)
   I'm lost
   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.
   Ich ha mi verlaufe. Wo isch de Paradeplatz? — I'm lost. Where is Paradeplatz?
10. Chönd Sie mir bitte es Taxi rüefe? kernd see meer BIT-teh es TAK-see REW-eh-feh formal
    Can you call a taxi, please?
    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.
    Chönd Sie mir bitte es Taxi rüefe? – Sicher, wohi? — Can you call a taxi, please? – Of course, where to?