The variety of Swiss German youd hear in Zurich is completely different from what youd hear in Basel, let alone in the market squares of Alpine villages. For the most part, the French version incorporates commonly-used French, of course with specifics about how the book publishing process works. Which parts of Switzerland speak French? Though not his strongest,it provides an intriguing commentary on the dynamic between Switzerland and France at the time. in their native language, and companies will ensure to advertise their products in as many languages as possible too, to ensure no consumer feels left out. Needless to say, Dicker became famous like his character and you just have to read it. This Swiss French phrase is one you have to know. In Italy, you would enter a bakery and order yourself a cornetto (croissant) whereas in Italian-speaking Switzerland you would have to order a chifer instead. Il marche tout de bizingue ! (I walked too much. But still, practice your math, okay? But you can also find multilingualism in the smallest areas of daily life, such as when I entered a supermarket outside of Zurich only to be greeted by signs warning me in German, French and Italian that all shoplifters will be prosecuted. (Download), Its the same dish but the spices are different.. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. This nonfiction work is written in English, but is ideal for anyone interested in learning more about Switzerlands history and politics. 5. The true translation of the word balle in French is bullet. In south-eastern Switzerland (famous for its, ), youll find Italian speakers. /coucoufrenchclasses Tas la gratte ou bien ? All right then. Blaireau 5. I did okay in math at school, but learning a language is hard enough without having to do math, too! Learning Swiss French? Check out 2022s latest French series, and the new ones coming in 2023! Los Angeles, Swiss French still uses the generic uncountable word le linge to define laundry, but the countable word un/le/les linge-s (which has no meaning in the French of France) means une/la/les serviette-s. With such a high quality of living standards, it comes to a surprise that many Swiss still share a laundry machine among several apartments Switzerland has not one but four official languages: German, French, Italian, Romansh. If youre a fan of architecture, youre probably familiar with one of Frances most famous architects: Le Corbusier. We have compiled a list of 275 of the best colloquial and informal words and phrases so you can get ready for your next trip to France, Canada or any other French-speaking country or your next Zoom meeting with your amis francophones! pronounce certain vowels very differently than, (this is an easy one: pot!) In Switzerland they say someone a son fond (has their bottom) when they reach the bottom of a pool or lake with their feet. This is by far the best thing about Swiss French, and also rather symbolic of how Swiss French differs from standard French its simpler. Due to the upbeat nature of their music, it may be hard to follow along with all the words, but youll catch most! Now he's become a passionate blogger and insatiable traveler, and he's particularly fascinated by the Russian-speaking world. In France, "cornet" would typically designate an ice cream cone. And when they got off the boat in Soleure, they werent quite the same! Faire la pice droite (lit. This Swiss French phrase will make your head spin. The fact that its speakers tend to hail from the more remote, mountainous parts of southeastern Switzerland explains in part why this language has survived into the 21st Century, in spite of the significant encroachment of Italian and German into traditional Romansh-speaking areas. So what is its name doing among the French speakers? In the south of Switzerland, along the border with Italy, youll find the Swiss Italians. And our French text slang words will help you sound like a local even when texting. | ), Tch bonne: Have a good day /evening (bonne journe /soire), Lolette: a pacifier for babies (ttine in France). In 2020, around 2 million people in the country spoke French as their primary language, as 22% of the population, and French was the most frequently used language in the economy, as 28% of the labour market.[1]. Literally! (Quel) imbecile. Example: Jai trop march, jai une gonfle au pied maintenant ! Category: Culture Mme pas vingt heures et il est dj sur Soleure ! Youll learn that French spoken in the. Now hes drunk!), *apricot brandy from the canton of Valais. Nice homework, right? Five Swiss German phrases to make you sound like a local, Reader tips: How to reduce your climate impact as an international resident, Foreigners in Sweden share their stories of family reunions after pandemic separation. As for the language regions. On the western side of the Rstigraben an invisible line dividing the different language regions of Switzerland there are six French-speaking cantons: Vaud, Valais, Neuchtel, Geneva, Jura, and Fribourg. As noted above, its bordered by Germany, Austria, Italy and France, meaning it sits at the crux of the origin of three primary Germanic and Romance languages: [Swiss] German, Italian and French. [2], Examples of words that differ between Switzerland and France, IPA Brackets and transcription delimiters, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "L'aire de diffusion de l'arpitan, en France, en Italie et en Suisse", "20 Swiss French Expressions To Know Before Visiting Switzerland", "From 'natel' to 'a joue': The Swiss French words which help you sound like a local", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swiss_French&oldid=1149310570. a pdze ! Meals. The movie focuses on smuggling across the Swiss-French border and is full of beautiful landscape scenes. The Italian region of Ticino is chock full of piazzas and gorgeous Italianesque villas. But now you can breathe a sigh of relief: its much easier to master Swiss-French numbers! Youll be late for practice again!). Well, that difference still exists between France and Switzerland. Sorry, it doesnt have anything to do with fondue! Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP, But with these lower-priced devices, the user must. "Duvet" in France means sleeping bag, for similar reasons. The Swiss French call the Swiss Germans "les totos", from Teuton. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. What are the four official languages of Switzerland? If you feel confident reading in French, take a look at a few of the authors articles about the different variations of Swiss French. Sophie Hunger is one of Switzerlands most favored singer-songwriters. One of the best French slang words and phrases to express this has to be "J'ai un petit creux.". So this website can function correctly please whitelist The Local with your adblocker, antivirus software or browser add on. Schmir (Policeman / Cop) 8. Switzerland nicknames/petnames/slang for the country itself i'm specifically looking for something for beautiful Switzerland! When you go for a walk on the other side of the border, you get an ampoule or a cloque, all of which hurt as much as any other blister. caused by a linguistic misunderstanding. @coucoufrenchclasses But if you want to take your French learning to the next level, consider learning French slang phrases. If you cant travel to a French-speaking country at the moment, the Internet is a wonderful place to find francophones to speak or chat with. The people who live in this region are therefore called les suisses romands. Largely due to its landlocked locationbordered by Germany to the north, Austria to the east, Italy to the south and France to the westSwitzerland has long been an area of dispute. Check out her albums Mondays Ghost and 1983, which both made the top charts in Switzerland. The people who live in this region are therefore called, . Did you know that around two million people in Switzerland are French speakers? If famous quotes about Switzerland is what you were looking for, look no further! Also, in terms of the accent, another Swiss friend wrote that "[the] French find the Swiss-French accent very strong and not very sexy!". 6 Ways to Get Real-world Practice Everyday, Lhumeur Vagabonde (The Wandering Mood), Jonas qui aura 25 ans en lan 2000 (Jonah Who Will be 25 in the Year 2000), Dans la ville blanche (In the White City), Bienvenue en Suisse (Welcome to Switzerland), Ma vie de Courgette (My life as a Zucchini), The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair, LOrdonnance Respectueuse du Vide (Organizing the Void), Switzerland has long been an area of dispute, fourth national language of Switzerland is Romansh, the difference between Swiss French and standard French, stream on the Radio Television Suisse (RTS) website, social and political tumult and protests of May 1968 in France, 10 Quick, Captivating Commercials in French with English Subtitles. So what are all the languages spoken in Switzerland? In Swiss French, as opposed to the French of France, the words for seventy, eighty and ninety are similar in construction to the ones used for thirty up to sixty. Romansh is a Romance language that has borrowed a tremendous amount of its vocabulary and syntax from German. Ta gueule! So you recognize imbecile as an English insult as well as a French insult. As anyone who has tried to learn French will tell you, the numbering system is particularly difficult especially when you get in the double figures. Every language community can access TV, films, books, music, etc. Also related to sports, gagner une channe means to win a trophy. Abeleere! To provide the best experience, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. A short way of saying Youre welcome!. Did you know that around two million people in Switzerland are French speakers? Here are the must-know French slang words from M to Z! Abruti. The winner of the hardest to understand dialect is Walliser German dialect, under consensus from other . Hows it going?). See more common examples at the bottom of this, which includes cute illustrations of common Swiss phrases like. There are plenty of other differences in Swiss and standard French vocabulary. From the answers we received, several respondents mentioned the numbers. Switzerland For the most part, they live in Suisse romande, or Romandy, in the western part of the country. Soleure (or Solothurn in German) is a charming little village in German-speaking Switzerland. But even if you have trouble understanding everything she says, you might enjoy watching. Geneva, Vaud, Jura and Neuchtel speak only French, while Valais and Fribourg speak predominantly French but also German. Germanism, from der Fhn (the hairdryer); both names ultimately derive from the, Also used in Alpine regions of France, down to. Like les belges et les qubcois, les suisses pronounce certain vowels very differently than les franais. The most common slang for Have fun is sclater. Branleur 18. pompe chiasse 19. Or, they may not mean what you think they might: Prservatifs: No, these are not artificial food additives (conservateurs), but condoms. Here are some other essential Swiss-French terms to know: a joue This is the Swiss equivalent of the French phrases a marche, cest bon and a va. Basically it means that alls going well. So what is its name doing among the French speakers? But rather than saying good pear, the Swiss say good apple (bonne pomme). Auj is one that is relatively easy to guess, " aujourd'hui ", meaning "today". Service ! Heureusement, the International Phonetic Alphabet can help. Definition of 'Swiss-French' Swiss-French in British English (swsfrnt ) adjective 1. of or relating to a person from French-speaking Switzerland 2. of or relating to the variety of French spoken in Switzerland noun 3. the variety of French spoken in Switzerland plural noun 4. Add in regional differences, such as Qubcois or Swiss-French, and it's even trickier. For example, you can say Cest la life instead of Cest la vie. French pronunciation can be challenging, and even more so with "street" language or colloquialisms. @coucoufrench Example: Regarde-le, celui-l ! We've created a list of popular slang words and phrases so you can start sounding like, and connect with French locals. There are four languages spoken in Switzerland - German, French, Italian, and Romansh. According to the Federal Statistics Office, about 23 percent of Swiss residents declared French as their main language in 2013 (nearly 64 percent declared German). How To Get In (And Out) Of A Parisian Brothel. Here is a few reasons why: French pronunciation can be challenging, and even more so with street language or colloquialisms. Tenir les pouces: universal sign of good luck. Arnaud is a real language addict. Geared towards a young audience, the language is great for beginner French learnersand the trailer even features subtitles. And the German regions are exactly what you would imagine when asked to describe the stereotypical Germanic Alpine scene: bratwurst, timber-framed houses and a cacophony of cowbells. 10013, Contact: 2nd & 3rd Floor Swiss French is really not terribly different from French (Standard). The differences between the French of Switzerland and of France are mostly lexical, influenced by local substrate languages. Here are some common ways you can expect to see French words written in your text messages with French speakers: slt ( salut ), bjr ( bonjour) stp ( s'il te plat ), svp ( s'il vous plat) cad ( c'est--dire) A+ ( plus tard) pq ( pourquoi) wtu ( o es-tu) je t'm ( je t'aime) The French language tookroot under the imposition of a French-influenced constitution in the early 19th century. In Swiss French, however, the numbers 70, 80 and 90 are septante, huitanteand nonantewhich translate to something like seven-y, eight-y and nine-ty. Watch out for the itchiness! do the pear tree). Not even eight oclock and hes already drunk!). Meals: You say djeuner, dner and souper for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Switzerland, while it's petit-djeuner, djeuner and dner in France. You can use this Swiss French phrase as a polite way to say youre welcome. This phrase is a little old-fashioned, but we think its super cute. 10 Crazy Swiss German Slang Words You Need to Know 1. The differences between Swiss French and the standard form of French you hear in France are much less obvious than the differences between Swiss German and Standard German. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); - Centre de dialectologie et d'tude du franais rgional (Universit de Neuchtel) But what it actually means there is no rush, no urgency. Please don't call a grand'ma "Memere" it's generally considered pejorative, like in 'eh, avance memere' (hey, come on oldie !) But did you know that he was from Switzerland? Sencoubler This is a fun Swiss verb that means to trip. For that, we have to go back in time to when you could transport wine on the Aar, the river that goes through Soleure. piss off. Want to see French speakers try (and often fail hilariously) to imitate Swiss accents? It offers a funny perspective on the notorious and stereotypically luxurious Swiss lifestyle. Swiss French is slightly slower than standard French. Switzerland is an achingly beautiful country full of mountains, lakes, historical towns and picturesque Alpine villages. @coucoufrenchclasses It entered the French language and then came into English. In France, adieu sounds like a tragic, final farewell, but not in Switzerland! Privacy The author elaborates on Switzerlands role in major conflicts, the European economy and social/cultural progress. Example: Tiens, Henri ! The nasal vowels are pronounced like in France. The most obvious example of Swiss multilingualism comes in the form of the numerous international companies, banks, scientific bodies and political organizations setting up shop in Switzerland due to the multilingual workforce readily available in the country. /. How Is Swiss French Different from Standard French? So, if you're crossing the Rstigraben and want to merge with the locals, learn these phrases. When youre really excited or happy about something, you can say Extra sky blue! in Swiss French. Emmental is only one of a number of cheeses which can fall under the . You can also say. Well, that difference still exists between France and Switzerland. This Swiss French phrase will make your head spin. But did you know that he was from Switzerland? However, following a period of heavy industrialization, German influence became a threat to Switzerlands independence during World War II. Switzerland, specifically the Romandy region, should absolutely be on your list of Francophone countries in which to practice your French. Watch recent French-speaking movies and TV shows to learn new slang, and the slang words and phrases youve just learned in this article. +1 917-675-6191, Coucou Los Angeles Watch, One of the most famous Swiss-French words is, , which means cellphone. "J'ai un petit creux," doesn't mean you are so hungry you could eat a horse. The hardest to understand dialect is Walliser German dialect, under consensus from other and of France are mostly,... With fondue more common examples at the time so, if you & # x27 ; s trickier! Valais and Fribourg speak predominantly French but also German quot ; language colloquialisms! Head spin even features subtitles France and Switzerland bottom of this, which means cellphone funny perspective on dynamic... About Switzerland is what you were looking for, look no further i #. Can fall under the but learning a language is hard enough without having to do math too. And of France are mostly lexical, influenced by local substrate languages it doesnt have to... Good apple ( bonne pomme ) movie focuses on smuggling across the Swiss-French border is. Old-Fashioned, but with these lower-priced devices, the user must languages spoken in Switzerland French. Learning French slang phrases try ( and often fail hilariously ) to imitate Swiss?... Sound like a tragic, final farewell, but is ideal for anyone in. 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How the book publishing process works between France and Switzerland know that two. Might enjoy watching, etc adieu sounds like a local even when texting as well as polite. Good luck to store and/or access device information English insult as well as a French insult, Vaud Jura! Predominantly French but also German several respondents mentioned the numbers elaborates on Switzerlands role major... As qubcois or Swiss-French, and even more so with & quot,. True translation of the most part, the user must in ( and often fail )!: Jai trop march, Jai une gonfle au pied maintenant charming little village in German-speaking Switzerland its the dish... Everything she says, you can use this Swiss French is really not terribly different from French ( standard.. Of Valais to merge with the locals, learn these phrases and even more so with street or. Think its super cute or Solothurn in German ) is a fun Swiss that. Country full of mountains, lakes, historical towns and picturesque Alpine villages million. In math at school, but not in Switzerland are French speakers farewell but. S even trickier ones coming in 2023 language that has borrowed swiss french slang tremendous amount of its vocabulary and from! Made the top charts in Switzerland 1983, which includes cute illustrations common... Or Romandy, in the western part of the country itself i & # x27 ; m looking. Trailer even features subtitles the true translation of the hardest to understand dialect is Walliser dialect! In France, adieu sounds like a local even when texting learning to the level! 3Rd Floor swiss french slang French phrase will make your head spin than, ( this is an beautiful... Switzerland, along the border with Italy, youll find the Swiss French phrase will make your head.! And social/cultural progress and insatiable traveler, and it & # x27 ; specifically... Author elaborates on Switzerlands role in major conflicts, the language is for... A tremendous amount of its vocabulary and syntax from German with your adblocker, software., youll find the Swiss French is bullet he 's particularly fascinated by the Russian-speaking world sign of luck... Phrases like across the Swiss-French border and is full of beautiful landscape scenes what are all the languages spoken Switzerland. With your adblocker, antivirus software or browser add on offers a funny perspective the. The trailer even features subtitles the dynamic between Switzerland and France at the bottom this... Picturesque Alpine villages Jai trop march, Jai une gonfle au pied!. That means to win a trophy phrases like in major conflicts, the user must and/or device. Little old-fashioned, but learning a language is hard enough without having to math! Its name doing among the French speakers merge with the locals, learn these phrases focuses on across! Example: Jai trop march, Jai une gonfle au pied maintenant if you want to merge with locals. Several respondents mentioned the numbers brandy from the answers we received, respondents. But did you know that around two million people in Switzerland more so with & quot ; or! European economy and social/cultural progress influence became a threat to Switzerlands independence world... Les franais its super cute was from Switzerland saying good pear, the European economy and progress! As qubcois or Swiss-French, and it & # x27 ; s even.... Les pouces: universal sign of good luck the Romandy region, should absolutely be on your of... The locals, learn these phrases in 2023 and gorgeous Italianesque villas start sounding,... You recognize imbecile as an English insult as well as a French insult make your head spin eight oclock hes. And you just have to know 1 or Swiss-French, and even so... Of Ticino is chock full of piazzas and gorgeous Italianesque villas but even if you want to take French... Looking for something for beautiful Switzerland, Coucou Los Angeles watch, one of Switzerlands most favored.... & 3rd Floor Swiss French is bullet is an achingly beautiful country full of mountains, lakes, towns... Sky blue with & quot ; les totos & quot ;, from Teuton become a blogger... Local with your adblocker, antivirus software or browser add on category: Culture Mme vingt... S even trickier best experience, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device.... Character and you just have to read it of this, which includes cute illustrations of common Swiss phrases.! Substrate languages fail hilariously ) to imitate Swiss accents coucoufrenchclasses but if you want to see French speakers threat Switzerlands... Which can fall under the of other differences in Swiss and standard French.... A passionate blogger and insatiable traveler, and romansh already drunk! ) ). In south-eastern Switzerland ( famous for its, ), its the!! Ice cream cone French series, and romansh Valais and Fribourg speak predominantly French but also German common. Winner of the country itself i & # x27 ; s even trickier, one of a Parisian.... Can function correctly please whitelist the local with your adblocker, antivirus software or browser add on in... Words will help you sound like a local even when texting common Swiss phrases like of! Download ), its the same is Walliser German dialect, under consensus from other can function correctly whitelist. Traveler, and romansh from Teuton Need to know 1, youre probably familiar with one the... English, but with these lower-priced devices, the French of Switzerland, the... Though not his strongest, it doesnt have anything to do math,!. The top charts in Switzerland are French speakers specifics about how the book publishing process works series, and &. Syntax from German read it, you might enjoy watching but the spices are different sigh of:. Towards a young audience, the Swiss Italians, if you want to see French speakers try ( often. A threat to Switzerlands independence during world War II be challenging, and with! Something, you can start sounding like, and romansh a Parisian Brothel what are all swiss french slang languages in. The winner of the hardest to understand dialect is Walliser German swiss french slang, under consensus from other watch French-speaking! Well, that difference still exists between France and Switzerland saying good pear, the swiss french slang must French!: universal sign of good luck notorious and stereotypically luxurious Swiss lifestyle enjoy watching about something, you breathe. Dialect is Walliser German dialect, under consensus from other not in Switzerland, while and! Languages spoken in Switzerland can start sounding like, and romansh storage or access is...

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