For anyone who has learned and relearned the French number system, I present your saving grace: Swiss French numbers! The dialects are so varied that it is hard for some Swiss Germans not being able to understand another. This page was last edited on 11 April 2023, at 12:32. Not consenting or withdrawing consent may adversely affect certain features and functions. Have questions? Zucchinis were already mentioned. 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. After a long walk around Lake Geneva, its not uncommon to get home with a gonfle au pied (swelling on the foot, or a blister). A French friend thinks that Swiss-French sounds "old", as it still uses words from 200 years ago. Service ! These three languages when added to the unique Romansh language makes for a diverse linguistic spectrum. For example, the city of Biel (German)/Bienne (French), has street signs written in both languages. Example: Quest-ce que tu as renvers par terre ? Modern French expressions use a lot of Anglicisms. Schmir (Policeman / Cop) 8. I hate to admit this, but it took me several months to understand this simple question after I moved to Western Switzerland (Suisse Romande). The French language tookroot under the imposition of a French-influenced constitution in the early 19th century. It means to work, and though we've put it in the infinitive form, you can conjugate it for the person you're describing or the subject of your sentence. The pronunciation is very different and a lot of words are borrowed from French, for example a bicycle is a 'Velo' more commonly than a 'Rad'. Allons boire une binouse aprs le travail. Please note that a similar expression doesnt exist in the German-speaking cantons, and for a good reason: Swiss-Germans are rarely late. What about the other languages spoken in Switzerland? - Glossaire des patois de la Suisse romande (Universit de Neuchtel) Leave it to the German language to help with any situation that involves a trade-off between two things. Just like the Saxons twisted Norman words they found hard and which later became English words (like" charpentier = carpenter, or boeuf = beef, or 'plombier' = 'plumber', etc). The Swiss use "Proscht" or "Prschtli" to say "cheers," similar to the German word "prost." Do not be surprised to hear phrases like " la votre," "Zum Wohl," or "Salute," though. But regardless of the area of Switzerland you find yourself in, you wont have to look too hard to find examples of the countrys multilingual identity. Avale mes couilles. Z'Nni (Second breakfast) 2. (Its a mess here! 9. In this multicultural and multilingual country with four official languages (French, German, Italian and Romansh), the Swiss French phrases also known as Helvetisms can certainly throw off the French speakers on the other side of the border. The English Internet language has lol and rofl. Having an understanding of Swiss French and Romand culture expands your spectrum of French learning in the best ways Jsuis nonante-neuf pourcent sr! Swiss French (French: franais de Suisse or suisse romand) is the variety of French spoken in the French-speaking area of Switzerland known as Romandy.French is one of the four official languages of Switzerland, the others being German, Italian, and Romansch.In 2020, around 2 million people in the country (22.8% of the population) spoke French as their primary language, and French was the . And heres the really confusing part: the French call lunch, Bond girl Ursula Andress was born to Swiss German parents, and, like many Swiss Germans, spoke fluent French. Kielbasa is actually just the polish word for sausage, and it is used for every type of sausage, not just what you know as 'Polish sausage'. 2023 Enux Education Limited. As in Belgium, the distinction between the vowels. Un mail - email. They se rduisent earlier than everyone else, meaning theyve gotten tired and will go to bed soon. 10013, Contact: This nonfiction work is written in English, but is ideal for anyone interested in learning more about Switzerlands history and politics. Swiss-French is also identical to Standard one. We will be cold if we don't turn the heater on. Le voil charg pour Soleure ! Youre welcome!). Altogether, I ended up with dozens of different words and phrases, some of which I was familiar with already, like natel (Swiss-French) vs. portable (French) for cell phone; or action (Swiss-French) vs. promotion (French) for special offer. Need guidance? The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. It might come as a relief to foreigners living in one of the French-speaking cantons that differences between the Swiss version of the language and the one spoken in France is much smaller than the difference between standard German and Schwyzerdtch. There is one noticeable difference - Swiss-French speakers tend to talk slower than their counterparts in France, giving a more relaxed tonality. Last but not least, Switzerlands smallest national language (and a language which only gained official recognition in 1996) is Romansh. French is one of Switzerland's four national languages. How to Speak Swiss French Like a Local: Vocab, Podcasts and More, French Influence in Switzerlands History. Much like its world-famous pocket knives, Switzerland feels like a country made up of varying parts, where four different languages are granted the cultural, political and social room to flourish with minimal interference from the state or from the other language communities. Switzerland, specifically the Romandy region, should absolutely be on your list of Francophone countries in which to practice your French. Extra bleu ciel! So what are all the languages spoken in Switzerland? I have also asked my friends for their opinions on Swiss-French in comparison to the French spoken in France. Example: Je ne sais pas faire la pice droite, je tombe toujours. The French Internet language has mdr (mort de rire) and ptdr (pt de rire), respectively. Abeleere! The nasal vowels are pronounced like in France. And, finally, theres a special term for words that only, . In France, "cornet" would typically designate an ice cream cone. Pre: father. So you want to immerse yourself in the French language? The latter is commonly found in food, the former usually isnt. Try to figure out which language (s) a person speaks before you greet him or her. Bte comme ses pieds 15. This contrasts with the differences between Standard German and Swiss German, which are largely mutually unintelligible. Joseph Gorgoni is a very popular Swiss comedian whose alter-ego, Marie Thrse Porchet, gives lessons about Switzerland in French. Numbers: In Switzerland, you can use septante, huitante and nonante for 70, 80 and 90, respectively - compared to soixante-dix, quatre-vingts and quatre-vingt-dix in France. Germanism, from der Fhn (the hairdryer); both names ultimately derive from the, Also used in Alpine regions of France, down to. - Expressions images suisses (TV5 MONDE) Earlier this year a Swiss reporter for German-language Swiss public television, SRF, interviewed Jean-Stphane Bron, a Swiss film director from French-speaking Lausanne, about his latest documentary. For that, we have to go back in time to when you could transport wine on the Aar, the river that goes through Soleure. 10 Crazy Swiss German Slang Words You Need to Know 1. Not even eight oclock and hes already drunk!). when you are stuck behind a car driving at 20 km/h when it could be . "Rclame" is an older disused word for advertising in French. do the pear tree). The Italian region of Ticino is chock full of piazzas and gorgeous Italianesque villas. Common Swiss Expressions One of the most famous Swiss-French words is natel, which means cellphone. What happens to people who spend all day cleaning the house from top to bottom with a panosse? Swiss Germans vigorously promote the rich array of dialects found within their community, meaning that its not even accurate to say that there is one unified spoken version of Swiss German. In France, adieu sounds like a tragic, final farewell, but not in Switzerland! Furthermore, the use of serviette is exclusively for napkin in Swiss French, whereas in regular French it could mean both towel or napkin. Now, the currency is the euro. More than anything it is an accent with a bit of vocab. This common, catch-all expression is used in the sense of a va or a marche, both as a question and a statement. Alain Tanner, a Swiss film director, has made over 40 Swiss French films. Today, French influence is concentrated in the westernmost Romandy region of Switzerland. This is an old one from Latin that meant that somebody didn't have a supporting stick. Switzerland. Blaireau 5. LABC de largot (the ABCs of French slang!). 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. Auj - Today. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'6Hf0LXakSrl1FCbkyvRRXA',sig:'2v4lKXjmkGpfbEkuclgi-WpYvxCnLNo1mPAF6Mc0vxs=',w:'594px',h:'397px',items:'111072395',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Bond girl Ursula Andress was born to Swiss German parents, and, like many Swiss Germans, spoke fluent French. Due to the upbeat nature of their music, it may be hard to follow along with all the words, but youll catch most! do the straight piece) means balancing yourself on your head and hands, like a handstand. It was nominated as Best Animated Film Feature for the 89th Academy Awards. How do you think Swiss-French compares to French spoken in France? Quick reminders about using French insults 1. But now you can breathe a sigh of relief: its much easier to master Swiss-French numbers! Click on the link for more information and to participate in the survey. Though the group sings mostly in English, theyre a staple of Swiss cultureand often switch between speaking Swiss French and English in interviews like the one above. The author elaborates on Switzerlands role in major conflicts, the European economy and social/cultural progress. The two often cannot understand one another. No no no, thankfully not. However, the number 80 varies; in some parts of Switzerland, French speakers say, You know how in the old days some people used to say , instead of dinner? If youre a fan of architecture, youre probably familiar with one of Frances most famous architects: Le Corbusier. It is Swiss French, but in plain English, it means "Would you like a bag?". While there are some distinctions in vocabulary and expressions, Swiss French wont prove too much trouble for anyone skilled in speaking Standard French. 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]. 12. , youll find that every street sign is written in both French and German! This is one of the most common German language idioms, which pops up just as frequently in colloquial chats as in political debates and news broadcasts across the German-speaking world. Swiss Italian, much like Swiss French, can be understood by any Italian or Italian-language student relatively easily. 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. This is howAndres Kristol, director of the University of Neuchatels Center for the Study of Dialects and Regional French, characterizesthe difference between Swiss French and standard French. : Are you crazy? You might be able to easily guess the meaning of this typically Swiss expression. Cuissettes cover cuisses (thighs), which makes sense. Hes walking all sideways! Emmental is only one of a number of cheeses which can fall under the . Youll be able to make jokes (within reason) in your informal business meetings with French partners/colleagues. French pronunciation can be challenging, and even more so with "street" language or colloquialisms. Va te faire voir 16. (Someone else had too much abricotine! Boudin 6. Aside from the numbers mentioned above, some words and phrases used in this part of Switzerland are uniquely Romand and if you use them in France, chances are you will be met with a quizzical look. You also might hear a slightly altered version: tre charg pour Soleure. Filmed in Geneva, this movie follows the lives of several characters that are affected by the social and political tumult and protests of May 1968 in France, when occupation of universities and factories brought the French economy to a halt and society to the brink of civil war. 11. Yes, I would like to be contacted about special events, newsletters and program information. Romansh is a Romance language that has borrowed a tremendous amount of its vocabulary and syntax from German. Site: ATGS. Since the dialogue is limited, its great for someone who wants to transition to watching films in spoken French without subtitles. But dont expect to be invited to play cards. Meals. As a general rule, the more formal the occasion is, the greater the likelihood that the communication will be carried out in Standard German, especially if non-Swiss German speakers are within earshot. You can also say. For example, some German terms in regions bordering German-speaking communities are completely unused in the area around Geneva, a city by France's border with Switzerland. Some of the first differences you may notice in Switzerland, when compared to France, involve numbers and meals. Faire la pice droite (lit. info@coucoufrenchclasses.com SRG SSR is the Swiss Broadcasting Association, whose name combines German-speaking Switzerland (SRG) and French-speaking Switzerland (SSR) to bring radio and television emissions to the country. Sans-couilles 8. Les doigts dans le nez ! Arnaud is a real language addict. Heureusement, the International Phonetic Alphabet can help. The group combines Cajun and Zydeco influences to produce a funky rock fusion sound. Check out her albums Mondays Ghost and 1983, which both made the top charts in Switzerland. 10. See more common examples at the bottom of this Wikipedia page. Youll learn that French spoken in the Jura region is quite different from that spoken in Geneva. So take it from me, if you speak standard German then you will have a hard time understanding Swiss German! P'pa: old expression equivalent to "pop". And when they got off the boat in Soleure, they werent quite the same! This Swiss French phrase is a synonym of coller (to stick), and it looks like pguer, which is the phrase often used in southern France. Want to see French speakers try (and often fail hilariously) to imitate Swiss accents? Every language community can access TV, films, books, music, etc. Youve eaten well, and now youre ready to have a little nap. caused by a linguistic misunderstanding. We've created a list of popular slang words and phrases so you can start sounding like, and connect with French locals. Want to see French speakers try (and often fail hilariously) to imitate Swiss accents? Though filmed in Lisbon, this movie is most notable for the manner in which it documents one lost souls time out of time. Following the floundering of a ship engineer, Paul, this film has limited spoken dialogue, but certainly communicates a great deal about the nature of the human soul and the mind of the Swiss director. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Now thats more like it! Stepping off the train in Geneva feels like walking into a typically French city, lined with cafes. Some readers also mentioned the expression a joue. In south-eastern Switzerland (famous for its, ), youll find Italian speakers. An avid runner and Swiss food blogger, she enjoys exploring Switzerland with her family. (Chug! Are you itchy or what?). Or as they say in Switzerland, faire un clopet. The phrase literally translates as to take something in the purchase. Daron: slang for dad. Its remarkable that the Swiss can keep their trains so punctual when you consider the amount of time they spend delivering announcements in all the languages spoken in Switzerland and also English. Lli (Loser) 6. (Im going to take a quick nap, dont disturb me!). Swiss German vs Hochdeutsch: What are the main differences? (a va pas la tte? Visiting Switzerland is the perfect way to flex your language muscles while dipping into a bit of French, Italian, Romansh and German culture at the same time. 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. And our French text slang words will help you sound like a local even when texting. From German "Maturittsexamen", "Matura". @coucoufrenchclasses Rough English Translation. But its not just in the written word that you find Hochdeutsch in Switzerland. Mme pas vingt heures et il est dj sur Soleure ! Copyright 2023 - Newly Swissed GmbH. QQ as in " quelqu'un " or "somebody". From Geneva to Lausanne, the Swiss have a particular way of expressing themselves. Swiss French is spoken by about 20 percent of the population in Switzerland, unsurprisingly concentrated on the west near the border with France. No matter where you are in the German-speaking world, who you are talking to and what time of day it is learn the most suitable German greeting for your needs. Sans autre No problem. pas de problme is what they say in France. 5. But rather than saying good pear, the Swiss say good apple (bonne pomme). Bern, the seat of the de facto capital, is also bilingual, but with more German than French speakers. It uses the word cornet instead of sac en plastique to describe a plastic bag. Despite the relatively small size of the Romansh-speaking community, there are incredibly five Romansh dialects in daily use, with attempts by the government of Grisons to introduce a universal pan-Romansh being met with mixed results at the local level. Switzerland is situated more or less in the heart of the European continent. I also learned Swiss-French has its own words for some common household linens: panosse (floor cloth), lavette (face cloth), linge de cuisine (dish towel) and linge de bain (bath towel). The site featuresshort video clips as well as news articles, and you shouldnt be surprised to see that the Swiss are quite attentive to world news. 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. (Drink up!) Some cantons such as Bern, Valais and Fribourg, are officially bilingual between French and German, and the canton of Grisons is even recognized as being trilingual with Italian, German and Romansh designated as official languages. Langrtistrasse 1A, 8635 Drnten Branleur 18. pompe chiasse 19. Bnzli (Narc / Goody two shoes) 9. From Geneva to Lausanne, the Swiss have a particular way of expressing themselves. Before we get started, there are a few basic things you should know. Someone whos not too bright, a little dumb. That is, standard French speakers emphasize the last syllable of words and sentences. If famous quotes about Switzerland is what you were looking for, look no further! Watch her speak French in an interview. (What did you spill on the ground? 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