A Humorous Guide to Switzerland
tidbits of life in Switzerland
Swiss German Dictionary
Learn Swiss German
Useful Links
Interesting (Expat) Blogs
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Aabig (evening)
aacho (to arrive)
aadüte (to hint at sth) also: aatöne
Aakunft (arrival)
Aaruef (phone call)
aatöne (to hint) also: adüüte
abartig (kinky)
abegheie (to fall from something)
Abflug (takeoff)
abflüge (to takeoff)
abhaue (to crop or to bunk)
Abreis (departure)
abreise (to depart)
abverheit (failed)
abverreckt (totally failed)
Ade, Adjö (formal goodbye)
Advent (advent, season before Christmas)
Adventschranz (advent wreath)
Adventskalender (Christmas calendar)
Adventsmärt (advent market)
Agända (diary)
Alles Guete zum Geburi! (Happy Birthday!) also: Häppi Börsdei!
alpott (again and again)
amigs (sometimes)
ängstirnig (narrow-minded)
Anke (butter) also: Butter
aper (snow free)
Arschbombe (cannonball, jumping butt first into the pool)
Ätti (dad in Bernese dialect)
äuä (fat change!, come on!)
Auto (car)
autofahre (to drive a car, to ride a car)
autostöpple (to hitchhike, lit. to stop a car)
äxgüsi (from french "excusez", sorry)
Baby (baby) also: Bébé, Buschi, Poppi
Badchappe (bathing cap)
Badchleid (bathing suit for women)
bade (to take a bath)
Badefeerie (beach vacation)
bädele (to swim, to play in the water)
Badhose (bathing trunks)
Badi (public pool) also: Schwümmbi
Badtüechli (towel)
Balkonie (staycation, lit. imaginary land on your balcony)
Bäredräck (licorice)
Bébé (baby) also: Baby, Buschi
Berg (mountain)
Beschprächig (meeting)
Bett (bed)
Bettfläsche (hot water bottle)
Bettmümpfeli (bedtime snack)
Bewärbig (application)
bewundere (to admire)
Bibeli (chick, pimple) Binggis (children) bisle (to pee) also: brünzle
biwakiere (to bivouac)
bizzeli (a little bit)
Blätter - leaves
Bleischtift (pencil) Blödian (idiot) also: Tubel
blöterle (to lollygag)
Blueme (flower)
Blüemli (little flower)
blüttle (walk around undressed)
Böllä (ball, onion (only in Zurich dialect))
Bratwurscht (bratwurst)
briegge (to cry) also: greine, gränne, hüüle, brüele
Brüeder (brother)
Brüederli (little brother)
brüele (to cry) also: greine, gränne, hüüle, briegge
Brünneli (washbasin, sink) also: Lawabo brünzle (to pee) also: bisle
bruuchbar (useful)
bsinne (to remember)
bsoffe (drunk)
Bsoffene (a drunk)
Bsuecher (visitor)
büätzä (to work) also: chrampfe, schaffe
Büätzer (worker)
bueche (to book)
Buggel (bump)
Buggeli (little bumps, bumps on a ski slope)
Buggelpischte (mogul slope)
Büro (office)
Bürzi (chignon) also: Hüppi, Pfürzi
Bus (bus)
Buschi (baby) also: Bébé, Baby
Buschiwägeli (pram)
busfahre (to ride a bus, to drive a bus)
Büsi (cat) also: Busle, Chatz
Busle (cat) also: Büsi, Chatz
Bütschgi ((apple) core) also: Groibschi, Gigetschi
Buuch (belly)
Buuchweh (tummy ache)
Buur (farmer)
Buurehof (farm)
Buurehof-Feerie (vacation on a farm)
campiere (to camp out)
Campingplatz (campground) also: Zältplatz
Chalet (chalet)
chalt (cold)
Chälti (coldness)
Chappe (touque, hat)
Charte (map, card)
Chäs (cheese)
Chaschte (wardrobe, strong and heavy man)
Chäschüechli (cheese tart)
Chaugummi (bubble gum) also: Cheutschgi
Cheib (bloke)
chere (to turn)
Cherze (candle)
Cherzezieh (making candles)
Cheutschgi (chewing gum) also: Chaugummi chiischtrig (to be hoarse)
Chilbi (fun fair, annual fair)
Chind (child, children)
Chindergeburi (child's birthday)
Chlapf (smack)
Chleider azieh (to put on clothes) also: sich aalege
chlöpfe (to bang) Chlöpfer (a Cervelat, a typical Swiss sausage) chlüübe (to pinch)
Chnebel (large piece of wood)
chneble (to gag someone)
choche (to cook)
Chochtopf (cooking pot)
Chopf (head)
Chopfhörer (head phone)
Chöpfler (dive with head first) also: Schpiessli
Chopfweh (headache) also: Grindweh chrable (to crawl) chräble (to scratch)
Chrälleli (beads)
chrampfe (to work hard)
Chriesi (cherry, cherries)
Chriesischtei (cherry stone)
Chrippe (manger, day care center)
Chrischtbaum (Christmas tree)
Chrischtchindli (Christ child)
Chrone (crown)
Chrotepösche (dandelion) also: Soiblueme
Chrüsimüsi (Chaos) also: Durenand
Chuchi (kitchen)
Chuchichäschtli (kitchen cupboard)
Chuchischublade (cupboard drawer)
Chue (cow)
Chueche (cake)
Chueflade (cowpat)
Chuehnagel (frostbite on finger or toes, lit. cow nail)
Chugelschriiber (ballpen) also: Chugi
Chugi (ballpen) also: Chugelschriiber Chugele (globe, ball) Chugelibahn (marble run) chugele (to roll)
Chum gli hei! (come home soon!)
Chündigung (letter of dismissal)
Chunnsch mit mir go Znacht ässe? (Will you go out to dinner with me?)
Chürbis - pumpkin
chüschele (to whisper in someone's ear)
chützele (to tickle)
chützelig (ticklish)
chuum (unlikely, improbable)
Cou-Cousin (male second cousin)
Cou-Cousine (female second cousin)
Cousin (male cousin)
Cousine (female cousin)
d'Hose ahaa (to wear the pants, e.g. to be in charge)
dinne (inside)
dischtanziert (aloof)
Donnschtig (Thursday)
driigheie (to fall for sth, to fall into sth)
Du bisch de Beschti! (you're the best (for men))
Du bisch di Beschti! (you're the best (for women))
Du gsehsch mega hübsch us. (you look so pretty)
Du machsch mi glücklich (you make me happy)
Dubel (idiot) also: Idiot
Durenand (chaos) also: Chrüsimüso
durenand sii (to be messy, confused)
dusse (outside)
Egoischt (egoist)
eh (anyway)
Eichörnli (squirrel)
Eier färbe (to color eggs, e.g. by cooking them in dye or drawing on them)
Eier sueche (to look for the eggs)
Eiertätsch (egg bump, i.e. an Easter game involving eggs)
eimal (once)
Eimal Kaffi bittschön (One coffee please)
Eltere (parents)
En Guete! (enjoy your meal, bon appetit)
En Huffe Gäld (a pile of money)
En Schöne (have a nice day)
En schöne Valentinstag (happy valentinesday)
Erdnüssli (peanut, typical gift from Santa)
Erläbnis (adventure, experience)
erschte Auguscht (1st of August = Switzerland's national day)
erstuunlich (astounding)
Es fägt (it's fun)
Es guets Nöis (happy new year)
Es menschelet (there are interpersonal problems)
Es schöns Wucheänd (have a nice weekend)
Eus gohts guet (we're all right)
Fähli (fur)
Familie (family)
farbig - colorful
Fäscht (party)
fasle (to maunder, to babble)
Faul (foul)
Feerie (holiday, vacation)
Feschtplatte (hard disk)
figuretle (busywork)
Finke (slipper)
Fisimatänte mache (make a fuss about sth. when it's not really necessary)
Fitze ( Santa's stick that he uses to hit bad behaving children)
Flangge (cross pass in soccer)
Flitterwuche (honey moon)
Flughafe (airport)
Flugi (airplane) also: Flugzüüg
Flugzüüg (airplane) also: Flugi
Fluug (flight)
Fluugangscht (fear of flying)
flüüge (to fly)
Fluughafe (airport)
fötele (to take photos)
Föteli (photo) also: Foti
Foti (photo) also: Föteli
Fötzeli (scrap of paper) Fotzelschnitte (lit. slice of paper scraps, French Toast)
Frau (woman, wife)
Frauefurz (firecracker, lit. A woman's fart)
Friitig (friday)
Früehlig (spring)
Fründ (boyfriend, friend)
Fründin (girlfriend, friend)
früsch (fresh)
fruschtriert (frustrated)
Fudi (butt) also: Füdli
Füdli (butt) also: Fudi
füdliblutt (buttnaked)
Füess (feet)
Fuessball (football, soccer, also lit. the soccer ball)
Fuessball spiele (to play soccer) also: tschutte
Fuessballplatz (soccer field) a lso: Tschuttiplatz
füessle (to touch each others feet)
fulänze (to relax, to do nothing)
Furz (fart)
Füür (fire)
füürle (to make a fire, to make a bonfire)
Füürwärk (fireworks)
ga blüemle (to go pick flowers)
ga bügle (to go to work)
Garracho (high speed)
Gascht (guest)
Gäscht (guests)
Geburi (birthday)
genialschtens (awesome)
Gepäck (luggage, baggage)
gfroore (frozen)
gfrüüre (to freeze)
gfürchig (creepy)
gheie (to fall)
ghöre (to hear)
Gigampfi (seesaw)
Gigetschi (apple core) also: Bütschgi, Groibschi gigele (to chuckle, to giggle)
Glattiis (black ice)
gleitschirmflüge (paragliding)
glette (to iron)
Glöggliböögg (silly, annoying person)
Glugsi (hiccup) also: Hitzgi
Glunge (puddle)
glüschtle (to look with envie)
Gmüetlichkeit (coziness)
Gnüss es! (have fun!)
gnüsse (enjoy sth)
Gnusswuche (week of indugence)
goisse (to shriek)
Gomfi (jam) also: Gonfi
Gonfi (jam) also: Gomfi
Goof (brat)
Gool (goal)
Gooli (goalie)
göötsche (to play with water)
Gopfriedstutz (darn it)
Göppel (old car, old vehicle, old bicycle)
Gorner (corner kick) göötsche (to play with water)
gränne (to cry, to weep) also: greine, hüüle, briegge, brüele
grau (grey)
Grind (head)
Grittibänz (bread roll in the shape of a man)
Gromi (grandma) also: Grosi, Grosmami
Gropi (grandpa) also: Grospapi, Grosätti
Grosätti (grandpa) also: Gropi, Grospapi
Groschind (grandchild, grandchildren)
Groseltere (grandparents)
Grosi (grandma) also: Gromi, Grosmami
Grosmami (grandma) also: Gromi, Grosi
Grospapi (grandpa) also: Gropi, Grosätti
Grossmami (grandma)
Grossmeitli (granddaughter)
Grübschi (apple core) also: Bütschgi, Gigetschi
Grücht (rumor)
Grüezi (formal hello) also: Griezi, Grüessech
Grüüsch (sound)
Gschänkli (gift, gifts))
Gschwüschterti (sibblings)
gsund (healthy)
Gsundheit! (Bless you! (after sneezing))
guet (good)
Guet Nacht (good night)
Guete Aabig (good evening)
Guete Morge (good morning)
Guete Tag (good day)
Guetzli (cookie, cookies)
Güfeli (pin, needle pin)
Gummistiefel (rain boots)
gumpe (to jump)
günschtig (cheap, good prize)
Güsel (trash)
Güselchübel (trash can)
Gutsch (sip or spill) güxle (to peek, to look)
Gwitter (thunderstorm)
Haar (hair)
Haargummeli (elastic hair band)
Haarschnitt (haircut)
habere (to eat)
Hackbrätt (zither)
häimelig (cozy)
Halbpension (half board)
Hallo (hello)
Hampfle (handful)
Händsche (gloves, mittens)
Häppi Börsdei! (Happy Birthday!) also: Alles Guete zum Geburi!
Härdöpfel (potato)
Härdöpfelstock (mashed potatoes)
heimlifeiss (to be more than can be seen at first sight (in a good or bad way))
Hemli (shirt)
Herbscht (fall, autumn)
Herbschtferie (fall vacation)
hiilegge (to fork out)
hindersi fahre (to drive in reverse)
Hochzig (wedding)
Hoi (informal hello)
Hoi zäme (informal hello to a group)
Hoigümper (grasshopper)
Hose (pants)
Hosesack (pocket)
Hostel (hostel)
Hotel (hotel)
Hotelzimmer (hotel room)
Hudigägeler (Swiss folk music)
Hueschte (to cough, a cough)
Hülle (casing, covering)
Hund (dog)
Hündli (puppy)
Hundsverlochete (party in the hills)
Hüppi (chignon) also: Bürzi, Pfürzi
hüüle (to weep) also: greine, gränne, brüele, briegge
Huus (hous)
Huusfrau (housewife)
Huustür (door (of a house))
Ich be ned Schwizer. (I am not Swiss (male))
Ich be ned Schwizerin. (I am not Swiss (female))
Ich be nur chli am umeluege. (I'm just looking.)
Ich bi voll. (I'm full, I ate enough)
Ich ha Milch gärn (I like milk)
Ich has kapiert (I got it, I understood) also: Ich has verstande, Ich has tscheggt
Ich has tscheggt (I got it, I understood) also: Ich has kapiert, Ich has verstande
Ich has verstande (I got it, I understood) also: Ich has kapiert, Ich has tscheggt
Ich liebe dich (I love you)
Ich mag nüm. (I've had enough)
Ich vermiss di. (I miss you)
ID (Swiss identity card)
Iglu (igloo)
Iibruch (burglary)
Iichaufe (shopping)
iigschneit (to be snowed in, stuck in a place because of snow fall)
iipacke (to bag something)
Iis (ice)
Iis (ice)iischlöfernd (soporific)
iischalt (ice cold)
iischneebele (to cover someone with snow)
Iishockey (hockey)
Iisräge (ice rain)
Iiszapfe (icicle)
iiu (sure)
in Usgang goh (to go out)
inegumpe (dive in, jump in)
jödele (to yodel) also: jodle
jodle (to yodel) also: jödele
Joggel (clumsy person, strange person, funny person)
jöggele (to play table football) also: töggele
Jöggelichaschte (table football) also: Töggelichaschte
Jugi (youth hostel)
jung (young)
jungi Lüt (young people)
Kaff (hicktown)
Kafi (coffee)
Karfriitig (Good Friday) Karsumpel (stuff, junk)
Kater (hangover, male cat)
kei Ahnig (no idea)
Koffer (suitcase)
Kolleeg (friend)
Kroki (sketch of a terrain)
Kuckucksuhr (cuckoo clock)
Kunscht (art)
Künschtler (artist)
Kunschtsammlig (art collection)
Lampe (lamp)
Lämpe (brawl)
langi Unterhose (long johns)
Langwili (boredom)
Lätzli (bib)
lauffe (to walk)
Lawabo (washbasin, sink) also: Brünneli
Lawine (avalanche)
Lawinegfohr (avalanche danger)
lehre (to study, to teach)
lerne (to study)
Liebe Gruess (kind regards) also: Liebi Grüess
Liebi (love)
Liebi Grüess (kind regards) also: Liebe Gruess
Liecht (light)
Liechterchetti (chain of lights)
Liechtli (little light)
Liegestuehl (deck chair)
links (left, the left side)
lisme (to knit)
Löli (fool, student driver)
Los mir zue! (listen to me!)
lose (to listen)
luege (to look)
Luft (air)
Luftibus (wanton person)
Lunch (picnic lunch)
lüüchte (to shine, to glow)
Lüüchtstift (highlighter)
Luune (mood)
luunisch (moody)
lüüte (ring)
Lüütispiili (ring and run)
Maa (man, husband) Mägerlimucki (a skinny child)
Mami (mom) also: Mueti, Mutti
mampfe (to eat)
Mandarinli (mandarine)
Mäntig (Monday)
Marroni (edible chestnuts )
Marronitschtand (Marroni booth)
Marroniverchäufer (Marroni vendor)
Marzipaneili (marzipan eggs)
Masseentlassig (collective dismissal)
Meer (sea, ocean)
mega fein (delicious)
Menü (menu)
messi (thank you, from french "merci") also: danke
mischi maschi (gallimaufry)
mitspile (to play along)
Mittag (noon)
Mittwuch (Wednesday)
Morge (morning)
Moscht (apple juice)
moschte (to make applesauce)
motze (to complain, to baa) also: mötzele
mötzele (to complain, to baa) also: motze
müed si (to be tired)
Mueter (mother)
Mueti (mom) also: Mami
Näbel (fog)
Näbelmeer (sea of fog)
näblig (foggy)
Nacht (night)
Nachzügler (straggler)
Nami (afternoon) also: Namitag
Namitag (afternoon) also: Nami
Natel (mobile phone)
Natuur (nature, outdoors)
Neffe (nephew)
neutral (neutral)
Nichte (niece)
nigelnagelneu (brand spanking new)
nonig (not yet)
notiere (to annotate)
nüüsse (to sneeze)
öbbe (approximately, sometimes)
öbber (someone)
öbber bewundere (to admire sb)
öbber speiche (to kick sb)
öbberem Honig ums Muul schmire (to butter sb up)
öbbis (something)
öbbis bewundere (to admire sth)
öbbis ufgäh (to jettison sth, to give up sth)
Ohregrübler (earwig)
Öpfel (apple, apples)
Oschtere (easter)
Oschtereili (easter egg)
Oschterhaas (easter bunny)
Oschterhäsli (little easter bunny)
Oschtermäntig (Easter Monday, a national holiday)
Oschternäschtli (Easter nest,little basket you put eggs and bunnies in)
Papi (dad)
Partner (partner, boyfriend, girlfriend)
Pass (passport)
Pass uf dich uf! (take care!)
Passaschier (passenger)
Passkontrolle (passport control)
Pauschalreis (package tour, all-inclusive vacation)
Pedale (pedal)
penne (to sleep)
Pfnüsel (cold, runny nose)
Pfüderi (little rascal)
Pfürzi (chignon) also: Bürzi, Hüppi
Pilz (mushroom, mushrooms)
Pnö (tire)
Pögg (puck) Poppi (baby) also: Baby, Bebé, Buschi
Poscht (mail, the post office)
poschte (to shop)
Poschtiwägeli (shopping cart)
Proscht! (cheers!)
Proviant (provisions)
Prüefig (exam)
Publikum (audience)
Puff (mess, brothel)
quängele (to be querulous)
quängelig (querulous)
Quartier (neighborhood)
quirlig (lively)
quätsche (to squeeze)
Räbe - turnip, beetroot
Räbeliechtli (beetroot lantern)
Räbeliechtliumzug (beetroot lantern walk)
rächts (right, the right side)
rächtzittig (on time)
Rad (wheel)
Räge (rain)
Rägeboge (rainbow)
Rägemantel (rain coat)
Rägeschirm (umbrella)
Rägetropfe (rain drops)
Rahm (cream) also: Nidle Ränzler: (lit. belly-er or paunch-er; when you jump off the diving board and land smack on your tummy)
Rappespalter (penny pincher)
Reis (trip, journey)
reise (to travel, to take a trip)
Reisebüro (travel agency)
Reisefieber (wanderlust)
Reisefüdli (someone who travels a lot)
Reisefüehrer (travel book, guide book)
Reiseziel (destination)
reläxe (to relax)
Reschti (restaurant)
Riitseili (swing) also: Riitti
Riitti (swing) also: Riitseili ring (easy, easily)
Rootwii (red wine)
Röschti (Swiss potato pancake)
Röschtigrabe (imaginary line that separates the French and German speaking parts of Switzerland)
Ross (horse)
Rössli (small horse)
Rossöpfel (road apple)
Rucksack (backpack)
Rüebli (carrot)
Rüeblitorte (carrot cake)
rüere (to stir, to throw)
Rüerei (scrambled egg)
Rutschbahn (slide)
Ruum (room)
Rüüm (rooms)
SAC Hütte (cottage of the Swiss Alpine Club)
Sack (bag)
säiche (to rain, to piss)
Samichlaus (Santa Claus)
Samschtig (Saturday)
sändele (to play with sand)
Schaal (scarf)
schaffe (to work) also: chrampfe
Schale (suit, coffee with milk, peel)
Schiff (boat, ship)
schifffahre (to ride a boat, to ride a ship) Schii (ski) Schiifahre (to ski) Schiilift (ski lift)
Schiri (referee)
Schiss (fear) Schisshaas (scaredy cat, lit. fear rabbit)
Schläckzüg (sweets, candy) also: Zeltli, Täfeli
Schläger (hockey stick)
Schlamassel (mess)
Schlirg (scrawl)
Schlitte (sledge)
Schlittschueh (skate, ice skate)
schlittschüehle (to ice skate)
Schluck (sip)
Schlückli (a little sip)
schmöcke (to smell)
schmuggle (to bootleg, to smuggle)
Schmutzli (lit: dirty one, Santa's helper)
schmuuse (to spoon with sb, to canoodle)
schnaagge (to crawl)
Schnee (snow)
Schneeball (snow ball)
Schneeball-Schlacht (snow ball fight)
schneebele (to play in the snow)
Schneeflocke (snowflake)
Schneeflöckli (small snowflake)
Schneeflöckli (snowflake)
Schneefrau (snow woman)
Schneemaa (snowman)
Schneeschturm (snow storm)
schneie (to snow)
schnorchle (to snorkle) Schnudderlumpe (lit. snot cloth, handkerchief)
Schnuddernaase (running nose)
Schnüggel (cuty)
schnütze (to blow one's nose)
schockierend (shocking)
Schöggeler (someone who has an easy life)
Schöggeli (small chocolates)
Schoggi (chocolate)
Schoggichueche (chocolate cake)
Schoggihaas ( chocolate bunny)
Schoggischtängel (chocolate stick)
Schöni Ferie (happy holidays)
Schöni Wiehnacht (marry Xmas)
Schoppe (baby milk bottle) Schpelsache (toys, lit. playing things)
Schpiessli (dive with head first) also: Chöpfler
Schpinnhupele (cobweb)
Schpoiz-Chnebel (recorder, flute)
Schpriisse (splitter, splinter)
schpringe (to run) also: seckle
Schprungbrätt (diving board)
Schprütze (injection, syringe)
schprütze (to slosh, to besplatter)
schriibe (to write)
Schtäge (stairs)
Schtange (bar, half a liter of beer)
Schtärn (star)
Schtärnli (little star)
Schtell (job, place)
Schtelleazeig (job advert)
Schtern (star)
Schtern vo Bethlehem (Chistmas star)
schtier (broke, flat broke)
Schtift (a pen or an apprentice)
Schtraass (street)
Schtrand (beach)
Schtrasselampe (street lamp)
schtrub (weird)
Schtube (living room, sitting room)
Schtuck (piece)
Schtückli (morsel)
schtudiere (to reflect or to study)
Schtutz (Swiss Franc or a steep ascent)
schüch (timid)
Schuel (school)
Schuelig (training)
Schuum (foam)
Schwager (brother-in-law)
schwänze (to play hooky)
Schwiegereltere (parents-in-law)
Schwiegermueter (mother-in-law)
Schwiegervatter (father-in-law)
Schwiiz (Switzerland)
Schwiizerdütsch (Swiss German)
Schwö (sis)
Schwögerin (sister-in-law)
Schwöschter (sister)
Schwöschterli (little sister)
Schwümmbi (public pool) also: Badi
Schwümmbrüle (goggles)
schwümme (to swim)
seckle (to run) also: schpringe
Seegfrörni (freezing of a lake)
Sehenswürdigkeit (tourist attraction)
singe (to sing)
Sitzig (meeting)
Soiblueme (dandelion) also: Chrotepösche
Souvenir (souvenir) Spazifizottel (stroll, walk)
Stadtplan (city map)
Stadtrundfahrt (sightseeing tour in a city)
Ströfzgi (extra exercise)
Summer (summer)
Summerfeerie (summer vacation)
sumpfig (boggy)
Sunne (sun)
Sunnebrand (sunburn)
Sunnegräm (sunscreen)
sünnele (to sun tan)
Sunneschirm (sunshade)
Sunntig (Sunday)
süüferli (gradually, carefully)
Suuser (young wine)
täderle (to sneak, to squeal, to tell on someone)
Täderlisack (someone who tells on someone)
Täfeli (candy, sweets) also: Zeltli
tanke (to refuel)
Tannebaum (fir tree)
Tante (aunt)
Täsche (bag)
täubele (to outdare)
Tee (tea)
Teebüteli (tea bag)
telefoniere (to make a phone call)
tifig (quickly)
töggele (to play table football) also: jöggele
Töggelichaschte (table football) also: Jöggelichaschte
tönt guet (sounds good)
tööne (to sound)
trampe (to pedal)
Truube (grape, grapes)
Trüübeli (small grapes)
tschalpe (to walk)
tschättere (to judder)
Tschüss (bye [to a friend])
Tschüss zämme (bye all)
Tschüssli (cheerio, bye)
tschutte (to boot, to play soccer)
tschutte (to play soccer) also: Fuessball spiele
tschüttele (to play with a soccer ball, easy going soccer playing)
Tschuttiplatz (soccer field) also: Fuessballplatz Tubel (idiot) also: Blödian
Tüechli (towel) tünterle (to buy unnecessary small things)
Tür (door)
Turischt (sightseer)
Turm (tower)
tüür (expensive)
übernachte (to stay over night)
Übernachtig (accommodation, overnight stay)
Überstunde (overtime)
Überziit (overtime)
ufmache (open) also: uftue
ufpoliere (to refurbish)
uftue (open) also: ufmache
Ufzgi (homework)
umchere (to turn around)
umegammle (to hang around)
umegusle (to rummage around)
umestreune (to roam)
Umfrog (survey)
Unglichheit (disparity)
Unkel (uncle)
useschiebe (procrastinate)
Usfluug (excursion, day trip)
Usland (overseas, countries outside of Switzerland)
Usländer (foreigner)
Uslandschwiizer (expat)
Uusflug (day trip, excursion)
uuspacke (to unpack)
uusschlofe (to sleep in)
Vati (dad) also: Papi, Äti, Vatter
Vatter (father) also: Papi, Äti, Vati
Veieli (black eye)
Velo (bicycle)
velofahre (to cycle)
Velohelm (helmet)
Velotour (bicycle tour)
Veloweg (bicycle track)
verpasse (to miss)
verrate (to sing out)
verreise (to go on a trip)
verschüche (to frighten off)
verschwände (to waste)
vertraulich (confidential)
Verwandti (relatives)
Viel Glück zum Geburi! (happy birthday!)
vögeliwohl (to feel very comfortable)
Vollpension (full board)
voorig (enough, left over)
Wäie (pie, cake)
wälsch (swiss-french)
Wandercharte (trail map)
wandere (to wander, to hike)
Wanderig (hike)
Wanderschueh (hiking boots)
Wanderweg (hiking trail, hiking track)
Was hesch hüt vor? (What are you up to today?)
Was? (what?)
Wasser (water)
Weggli (bread roll) weidli (quick, quickly)
Wie gohts? (how are you?)
Wie? (how?)
Wiehnachte (Christmas)
Wiehnachtsmärt (Christmas market)
Wieviel choschtet das? (how much does that cost?)
Wieviel? (how much?)
Wii (wine)
Wiiläset - grape harvest
Wiissi Wiehnachte (lit:white Christmas, snow on Christmas eve)
Wiiswii (white wine)
Wild (venison)
wild (wild)
Windle (diaper, nappy)
Winter (winter)
Winterjagge (winter coat)
wisawi (vis-à-vis)
Wo? (where)
Wuche (week)
Wullepulli (woolen sweater)
Wurscht (sausage)
wuschle (dishevel)
wuschlig (disheveled)
Zäh (teeth)Zahbürschteli (toothbrush)
Zah (tooth)
zähbutze (to brush your teeth)
Zahpaschta (thoothpaste)
Zält (tent)
zälte (to sleep in a tent)
Zältplatz (campground) also: Campingplatz
zart (tender, gentle)
Zartbitterschoggi (bittersweet chocolate)
Zeltli (sweets, candy) also: Täfeli
Ziischtig (Tuesday)
Ziit (time)
Ziitgeischt (zeitgeist)
Zimmerservice (room service)
Zmittag (lunch)
Zmorge (breakfast)
Zmorgebuffet (breakfast buffet)
zmörgele (to eat your breakfast in a unhurried way)
Znacht (dinner)
Znüni (second breakfast)
Zoll (customs)
Zuckereili (sugar eggs, candy in egg shape)
zuemache (close) also: zuetue
zuetue (close) also: zuemache
zügle (to move)
Zum Wohl! (cheers!) also: Proscht!
Zuug (train)
zuugfahre (to ride a train)
Zvieri (tea time)
Zwilling (twin)
zwitschere (to twitter)
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doc johnny June 18, 2019 at 8:07 AM how do you say kiss kiss in swiss slang doc johnny Reply Delete Replies Irene Wyrsch June 18, 2019 at 11:20 PM Depending on your dialect it would be 'küssli küssli' or 'kössli kössli'. In Bernese Swiss German they might say 'müntschi müntschi' but I'm not entirely sure sind that is not my native dialect. Hope this helps! Delete Replies Reply Reply
how do you say kiss kiss in swiss slang doc johnny
Irene Wyrsch June 18, 2019 at 11:20 PM Depending on your dialect it would be 'küssli küssli' or 'kössli kössli'. In Bernese Swiss German they might say 'müntschi müntschi' but I'm not entirely sure sind that is not my native dialect. Hope this helps! Delete Replies Reply
Depending on your dialect it would be 'küssli küssli' or 'kössli kössli'. In Bernese Swiss German they might say 'müntschi müntschi' but I'm not entirely sure sind that is not my native dialect. Hope this helps!
Annerivanzyl@ahumorousguidetoswitzerland.com December 6, 2019 at 7:49 AM How do you pronounce 'briegge'? Reply Delete Replies Irene Wyrsch December 6, 2019 at 4:42 PM Something like "bree-eh-ggah" with a strong G sound. Delete Replies Reply Reply
How do you pronounce 'briegge'?
Irene Wyrsch December 6, 2019 at 4:42 PM Something like "bree-eh-ggah" with a strong G sound. Delete Replies Reply
Something like "bree-eh-ggah" with a strong G sound.
v4lerio August 1, 2020 at 2:00 PM Amazing dictionary you have created. :-) As a person from Solothurn (near Bern region) we use the word "äuä" the same way Bernese people do and it's a very common expression in sentences. It's used it in different ways which is difficult to describe. Depending on the context it could also mean "probably" ("Es chunt ÄUÄ no cho rägne. = "It MAY rain later." / "It is PROBABLY going to rain later.") or as a negative form ("Dr Michi chunnt jetzt ÄUÄ chum no a d'Party." = "AS IF Michael will still come to the party at this time."). Reply Delete Replies Irene Wyrsch August 1, 2020 at 7:49 PM Thanks for your input. It's definitely an interesting word! Delete Replies Reply Reply
Amazing dictionary you have created. :-) As a person from Solothurn (near Bern region) we use the word "äuä" the same way Bernese people do and it's a very common expression in sentences. It's used it in different ways which is difficult to describe. Depending on the context it could also mean "probably" ("Es chunt ÄUÄ no cho rägne. = "It MAY rain later." / "It is PROBABLY going to rain later.") or as a negative form ("Dr Michi chunnt jetzt ÄUÄ chum no a d'Party." = "AS IF Michael will still come to the party at this time.").
Irene Wyrsch August 1, 2020 at 7:49 PM Thanks for your input. It's definitely an interesting word! Delete Replies Reply
Thanks for your input. It's definitely an interesting word!
The Swiss Hillbilly March 8, 2021 at 7:43 PM My mother's parents immigrated from the Berner Oberland to Wisconsin in the early 1900's. English was a second language for my mother (and father who was a Glarner). I know a little dialect from my parents and the Glarner community where I grew up. My mother used to call a runny nose (phonetically) shnu-thah-nuhz-ah, with no "d's". "Gring" was the word for head and could be attached to the word for stormy (shter-mee) or shwahd-lee (Mom said this meant something like careless.) Boy was "bueb" (boo-ub) and could be attached to the word for snot (see above) or louse (loos). Then, there's "hor-chik". Mom said this meant something like frumpy. I asked an elderly Swiss expat from Stammheim about the word, and he'd never heard of it. Her pronunciation for the word I (Ich) was a diphthong something like this: "Ayee" (but "ee" in Dad's dialect.) Have (habe) was "cha". Not was "nid" in Mom's dialect and "nayd" in Dad's. It gets confusing trying to keep it all straight, alongside the smattering of German I know. Reply Delete Replies Irene Wyrsch March 13, 2021 at 6:18 PM Thanks for writing. How interesting to see how Swiss German evolved once it arrived in America! I could probably still understand most of it but I'm guessing there are also older words still used that in today's Switzerland are considered old fashioned. I can understand how it gets confusing though. Especially if you throw German in the mix. :) Delete Replies Reply Reply
My mother's parents immigrated from the Berner Oberland to Wisconsin in the early 1900's. English was a second language for my mother (and father who was a Glarner). I know a little dialect from my parents and the Glarner community where I grew up. My mother used to call a runny nose (phonetically) shnu-thah-nuhz-ah, with no "d's". "Gring" was the word for head and could be attached to the word for stormy (shter-mee) or shwahd-lee (Mom said this meant something like careless.) Boy was "bueb" (boo-ub) and could be attached to the word for snot (see above) or louse (loos). Then, there's "hor-chik". Mom said this meant something like frumpy. I asked an elderly Swiss expat from Stammheim about the word, and he'd never heard of it. Her pronunciation for the word I (Ich) was a diphthong something like this: "Ayee" (but "ee" in Dad's dialect.) Have (habe) was "cha". Not was "nid" in Mom's dialect and "nayd" in Dad's. It gets confusing trying to keep it all straight, alongside the smattering of German I know.
Irene Wyrsch March 13, 2021 at 6:18 PM Thanks for writing. How interesting to see how Swiss German evolved once it arrived in America! I could probably still understand most of it but I'm guessing there are also older words still used that in today's Switzerland are considered old fashioned. I can understand how it gets confusing though. Especially if you throw German in the mix. :) Delete Replies Reply
Thanks for writing. How interesting to see how Swiss German evolved once it arrived in America! I could probably still understand most of it but I'm guessing there are also older words still used that in today's Switzerland are considered old fashioned. I can understand how it gets confusing though. Especially if you throw German in the mix. :)
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