The Swiss Germans call the Swiss French Russians because they speak an ununderstandable language that must come from a faraway land (this is mostly military slang though). Are you itchy or what?). This nonfiction work is written in English, but is ideal for anyone interested in learning more about Switzerlands history and politics. 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. And when they got off the boat in Soleure, they werent quite the same! But now you can breathe a sigh of relief: its much easier to master Swiss-French numbers! Switzerland, specifically the Romandy region, should absolutely be on your list of Francophone countries in which to practice your French. In Switzerland, multilingualism is the daily norm. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. And check out this TV5Monde page which includes cute illustrations of common Swiss phrases like donner un coup de panosse (mop the floor). A typically Swiss word thats used to mean skewed or sideways. Another difference is how the French speakers in Switzerland call their meals. Blaireau 5. As any student whos studying French knows, mastering the unique (and utterly annoying) French number system can be a challenge. Now, the currency is the euro. Tas la gratte ou bien ? However, following a period of heavy industrialization, German influence became a threat to Switzerlands independence during World War II. But in Swiss French, the O vowel sound changes between the words. Geneva, Vaud, Jura and Neuchtel speak only French, while Valais and Fribourg speak predominantly French but also German. Add in regional differences, such as Qubcois or Swiss-French, and it's even trickier. Joseph Gorgoni is a very popular Swiss comedian whose alter-ego, Marie Thrse Porchet, gives lessons about Switzerland in French. Romansh is a Romance language that has borrowed a tremendous amount of its vocabulary and syntax from German. Want to see French speakers try (and often fail hilariously) to imitate Swiss accents? Va te faire voir 16. 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. "Rclame" is an older disused word for advertising in French. Whether youre living there, planning a trip or just fascinated by the language of the Romandy region, youll need to know some of the key elements that make Swiss French what it is. 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? It was nominated as Best Animated Film Feature for the 89th Academy Awards. Crazy person/you're crazy: De ht en egge ab *** - He'smissing a corner. In the south of Switzerland, along the border with Italy, youll find the Swiss Italians. when you are stuck behind a car driving at 20 km/h when it could be . This Swiss French phrase will make your head spin. Arnaud is a real language addict. Episodes are available to stream on the Radio Television Suisse (RTS) website. After traveling to Reunion Island at the age of 10, he became conscious of the beauty and diversity of cultures. 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. (Its a mess here! Swiss German is a group of varied German dialects, spoken from behind the Rostigraben in Switzerland. Hors-ligne: This is often seen on buses in the Suisse Romandie. I've been told you'll hear quatre-vingts in Neuchtel and huitante in Lausanne, for example. 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. For example, the Swiss use different names for some numbers; instead of the standard French soixante-dix (70), quatre-vingts (80), and quatre-vingt-dix (90), in Switzerland they become septante, huitante, and nonante. - Glossaire des patois de la Suisse romande (Universit de Neuchtel) 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. Bern, the seat of the de facto capital, is also bilingual, but with more German than French speakers. This film is great for advanced French learners who are curious about Swiss French culture and history. Tu es rest croch ? Roi des cons 14. Also, in terms of the accent, another Swiss friend wrote that "[the] French find the Swiss-French accent very strong and not very sexy!". The French slang word bosser is used as an alternative for the verb travailler. Parisians and Quebecers might tell you that Swiss people speak French more slowly, but linguists have disproven this claim. Literally translated it means it plays, but in the Suisse Romande it means yes, its alright. Switzerland: the chocolate, the cheese, the cows, the mountains and the multilingualism. Watch recent French-speaking movies and TV shows to learn new slang, and the slang words and phrases youve just learned in this article. are pronounced the same way in France. 5. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. Then Check Out: Red Light District Tips! , youll find that every street sign is written in both French and German! 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. 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. So take it from me, if you speak standard German then you will have a hard time understanding Swiss German! @coucoufrenchclasses Geneva, Vaud, Jura and Neuchtel speak only French, while Valais and Fribourg speak predominantly French but also German. Re: swiss french words!!! +41 78 949 03 53. (I kindly asked him to clean up his mess, and now hes pouting!). The Swiss are taught Standard German (Hochdeutsch) from a very early age in school, and as a result, they can communicate with Germans, Austrians and other German speakers without any trouble effortlessly making the switch to standard German almost automatically when engaging in conversation with a non-Swiss German speaker. Last but not least, Switzerlands smallest national language (and a language which only gained official recognition in 1996) is Romansh. Abeleere! There is one noticeable difference - Swiss-French speakers tend to talk slower than their counterparts in France, giving a more relaxed tonality. | Weve got you covered! Weve got you covered! In south-eastern Switzerland (famous for its, ), youll find Italian speakers. But dont expect to be invited to play cards. 253 Centre Street 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. Le voil charg pour Soleure ! swish n. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); - Centre de dialectologie et d'tude du franais rgional (Universit de Neuchtel) You won't forget this slang term it contains the English word 'boss' which will help you call the word to mind. The Romands decided to simplify these words from their original French versions: soixante-dix, quatre-vingt, and quatre-vingt-dix, which literally translate to sixty-ten, four twenties and four twenties-ten. 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. The Swiss French call the Swiss Germans "les totos", from Teuton. Swiss German Slang- ChuchichaschliLand; Close; Global Slang. 9. QQ as in " quelqu'un " or "somebody". How do you think Swiss-French compares to French spoken in France? Sorry, it doesnt have anything to do with fondue! Unfortunately, her videos are only available with French subtitles. 10013, Contact: However, regional differences are also at play here: Geneva uses the French version of these numbers, possibly because of its close proximity to France. Alain Tanner, a Swiss film director, has made over 40 Swiss French films. In Swiss French, as opposed to the French of France, words for seventy, eighty and ninety are similar in construction to the ones used for thirty up to sixty. "Duvet" comes from the fact that comforters used to be filled with down feather (duvet). Click here to get a copy. Les doigts dans le nez ! Une vache espagnole 3. 1. This guide to slang will take your French learning to the next level. This common, catch-all expression is used in the sense of, What happens to people who spend all day cleaning the house from top to bottom with a, You might be able to easily guess the meaning of this typically Swiss expression. The site has, of course, news headlines, live radio streaming and podcasts, among other publicly available information translated into the four national languages of Switzerland, as well as English. Auj is one that is relatively easy to guess, " aujourd'hui ", meaning "today". All rights reserved. Sous-merde 17. Preparing for a French trip? @coucoufrench Its just a friendly way to say goodbye. We explain what they are, where theyre spoken and, most importantly, when to speak them. 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]. How Is Swiss French Different from Standard French? French Slang- The Weather and Commands, find out French colloquial expressions to talk about the weather of give commands. If a Swiss person asks you this, theyre probably pretty cheerful. Swiss French is really not terribly different from French (Standard). Pouffiasse . This contrasts with the differences between Standard German and Swiss German, which are largely mutually unintelligible. 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. 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. 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! (Drink up!) Gotthard, a Swiss band that was extremely popular in the 90s, became (and still is) one of the most famous bands in Europe. 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. For instance, the words peau (skin) and pot (this is an easy one: pot!) See the Swiss-French Collins English Dictionary. After living in Western Switzerland for three years now, I wanted to share what I have learned about Swiss-French so far. Boudin 6. How to Speak Swiss French Like a Local: Vocab, Podcasts and More, French Influence in Switzerlands History. But did you know that he was from Switzerland? But even if you have trouble understanding everything she says, you might enjoy watching her videos to get a taste of Swiss culture. Unsurprisingly, with only 37,000 speakers, this language is often overlooked by international travelers to Switzerland. Youll do me a favor and mop the floor!). There are tiny differences here and there, however. Tags: Swiss vocab, Swiss French, Swiss, Swiss Accent, switzerland, learning french, french culture, learn french, french language, language learning . Sans autre No problem. pas de problme is what they say in France. (I am 99 percent sure!). There is some quirky vocab and it is spoken slower with lots of vowel differences, but it is pretty similar to Standard French. All Rights Reserved. swish n. (movement with hissing sound) (bruit aigu) sifflement nm. It uses the word cornet instead of sac en plastique to describe a plastic bag. It then came to refer to the bad goods that a merchant wanted to get rid of along with the desired purchase. Swiss-French is also identical to Standard one. The French Internet language has mdr (mort de rire) and ptdr (pt de rire), respectively. 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. On va se peler si on n'allume pas le chauffage. Youll be late for practice again!). Nope! From the answers we received, several respondents mentioned the numbers. Before 2002, the French currency was francs. 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. This week: Swiss French. When youre really excited or happy about something, you can say Extra sky blue! in Swiss French. ), Tch bonne: Have a good day /evening (bonne journe /soire), Lolette: a pacifier for babies (ttine in France). This page was last edited on 11 April 2023, at 12:32. Bnzli (Narc / Goody two shoes) 9. Youll learn that French spoken in the. But in France, youd have to croiser les doigts. Here is the vernacular you should master if you live in Suisse Romandie. Did you know that around two million people in Switzerland are French speakers? Famous for being one of the best countries to live in, Switzerland has four national languages and is known for a variety of Alemmanic dialects called "Swiss German" that are widely spoken in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. The French speaking region of Switzerland is called Romandy in English and la Romandie or, more commonly, la Suisse romande in French. Il marche tout de bizingue ! Not even eight oclock and hes already drunk!). Though not his strongest,it provides an intriguing commentary on the dynamic between Switzerland and France at the time. But while knowledge of the other national languages is required among all Swiss schoolchildren, this multilingualism can often fall to the wayside in adulthood. Almost 25% of the population in Switzerland speaks French. There are four languages spoken in Switzerland - German, French, Italian, and Romansh. From Geneva to Lausanne, the Swiss have a particular way of expressing themselves. Example: Je ne vais pas plus loin, aprs je nai plus fond ! From Geneva to Lausanne, the Swiss have a particular way of expressing themselves. For instance, instead of Fahrrad (bicycle), Swiss Germans opt for the French loanword Velo. Dure bi rot ** - passed a red light. Swiss-French is the second most widely spoken language in Switzerland and used by more than two million people. Although there are some differences between Swiss-French and standard French, you can still use the language in France, Belgium, and other Francophile countries. And, finally, theres a special term for words that only, . People would say balles as slang to refer to francs. However, this usage varies within Suisse Romande. . Merci Vilmal (Thanks a lot) 3. The four languages are German, French, Italian and Rumantsch. Known for their hard rock and contemporary rock, they were touring the world through 2012 with their album Firebirth. How To Get In (And Out) Of A Parisian Brothel. 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. Tu vas encore tre en retard lentranement ! Download our free guide to French slang! Swiss German vs Hochdeutsch: What are the main differences? Youre welcome!). The first three listed below are available to stream on YouTube, and Tanner is most well known for Jonas qui aura 25 ans en lan 2000 (Jonah Who Will be 25 in the Year 2000) and Dans la ville blanche (In the White City). Switzerland is a wonderful place to learn French outside of France! The dialects are so varied that it is hard for some Swiss Germans not being able to understand another. Its sticky!). is quite different from that spoken in Geneva. 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 author elaborates on Switzerlands role in major conflicts, the European economy and social/cultural progress. Sorry, it doesnt have anything to do with fondue! If you put on your cuissettes in Switzerland, youre putting on your athletic shorts. Hes walking all sideways! Meals. The group combines Cajun and Zydeco influences to produce a funky rock fusion sound. Lli (Loser) 6. 5. Lets just say it doesnt make any more sense than the standard French expression faire le poirier (lit. Of these cantons, three are bilingual in French and German: Bern, Fribourg and Valais. Now hes drunk!), *apricot brandy from the canton of Valais. Learning Swiss French? 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. Many French people are familiar with this Swiss number system, so if youre having a brain fart, its absolutely okay to default to this method sometimes. 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. Ta gueule! Le cheni in Switzerland is a mess or disorder. Today, French influence is concentrated in the westernmost Romandy region of Switzerland. The Italian region of Ticino is chock full of piazzas and gorgeous Italianesque villas. Rather than saying, Jai trbuch like the French do, the Swiss often say, Je me suis encoubl(e). Careful with your conjugation: this is a reflexive verb! Avoir la gratte is a typically Swiss expression that has a special meaning for hikers in wool sweaters on those winter evenings. Did you know that around two million people in Switzerland are French speakers? Say what? In fact, the Swiss have turned their multilingual identity into one of their greatest natural resources. The pleasure of punctuality: Why are the Swiss so obsessed with being on time? Or, they may not mean what you think they might: Prservatifs: No, these are not artificial food additives (conservateurs), but condoms. pronounce certain vowels very differently than, (this is an easy one: pot!) But rather than saying good pear, the Swiss say good apple (bonne pomme). 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. binouse/binouze - beer. Modern French expressions use a lot of Anglicisms. For example, the city of Biel (German)/Bienne (French), has street signs written in both languages. /coucou-french-classes-new-york, Coucou New York Example: Quelle journe, je nen peux plus ! These spices include everything from speaking pace to unique Swiss French words to the way people count. So this website can function correctly please whitelist The Local with your adblocker, antivirus software or browser add on. Just like every country has its own drinking culture, it also has its own set of words and phrases that are linked to it. Watch out for the itchiness! Likewise, if you plan on taking a train ride through Switzerland and are relying on the announcements being made in English you will need the patience level of a Trappist monk, as all announcements will be made in German and French first, then possibly Italian, and last but not least, English. (Download), Its the same dish but the spices are different.. In Switzerland they say someone a son fond (has their bottom) when they reach the bottom of a pool or lake with their feet. Rat 13. Nice homework, right? But, many people use balle to refer to money, like buck. For instance, French learners will rejoice at the Swiss French usage of the words septante and nonante for seventy and ninety none of that sixty-ten (70) and four twenties-ten (90) nonsense that you had to struggle with when learning French in school! Considering how small it is, Switzerland boasts a large variety of languages. "J'ai un petit creux," doesn't mean you are so hungry you could eat a horse. But its usage goes far beyond commercial transactions: essentially it means that, in order to get something you really want, you have to accept something less-than-ideal in return. Someone whos not too bright, a little dumb. 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. Why Cant I Learn French? a joue ou bien ? This typical Swiss word just means mop., Example: Cest le cheni, ici ! So what is its name doing among the French speakers? 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). Sans-couilles 8. The Local recently asked its readers what are the most important Swiss-French words to know. David Sumner hails from a small seaside town in Devon (the part of England that's so rural it puts Tolkien's. Zucchinis were already mentioned. You can use this Swiss French phrase as a polite way to say youre welcome. For anyone who has learned and relearned the French number system, I present your saving grace: Swiss French numbers! Hows it going?). Meals: You say djeuner, dner and souper for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Switzerland, while it's petit-djeuner, djeuner and dner in France. To provide the best experience, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. The French use quelle heure est-il? to ask what time it is, but the Swiss literally ask, At what time are we living?. Unless they sneeze right in front of you, that is. "Duvet" in France means sleeping bag, for similar reasons. French is spoken in the western part of the country, which is, you guessed it, the area that borders France. Mail in French is rather confusing because it actually is slang for un email, not postal mail. Time for a labored metaphor? 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. 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. French slang. An avid runner and Swiss food blogger, she enjoys exploring Switzerland with her family. Youve eaten well, and now youre ready to have a little nap. The people who live in this region are therefore called les suisses romands. Tout de bon When you want to wish someone well in French, or say Good luck with X, you typically use the phrase Bonne continuation. Tout de bon ! is the Swiss way of telling someone you wish them all the best. The hardest word to pronounce in Swiss German is 'Chuchichschtli', which rather disappointingly means a 'kitchen cupboard'. (What did you do to your jacket? Need guidance? You might have to take it in Kauf that youll miss the festivities. (Hey, Henri! Ready to dive into Swiss French? It entered the French language and then came into English. You can also say. 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. It gets even more confusing when you throw in the various dialects, such as Franc Comtois, a French dialect spoken in Switzerland's Jura and Bern cantons; and Swiss German, which is learned at . Switzerland recognizes four languages as so-called national languages, and while speakers of these languages can be found throughout the country, the four languages are largely confined to specific regions. Rough English Translation. Canadian slang deserves a whole article, but here are a few expressions and words to get you started. In this multicultural and multilingual country with four official languages (French, If a Swiss person asks you this, theyre probably pretty cheerful. Privacy 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. But the language is a recognized official language in the south-eastern canton of Grisons, where is it used as a medium of governance and education, while also enjoying a healthy existence as a community language. Example: Merci pour la qualit de votre accueil, nous reviendrons ! Watching news videos or reading articles is great for beginner language learners because of the visual context offered in a video and the ability to search new words you might find in an article. canon - beautiful. In the political dimension, the phrase is often used to argue that, in order to implement a beneficial measure be it more reliable public transport or energy rebates a less desired consequence, such as raising taxes, will be part of the deal. 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. Theres a lot of social/relational conflict in this film, so its better for confident French learners. Each of Switzerlands main languages German, French and Italian are shared with a larger and more influential neighbour. Click on the link for more information and to participate in the survey. In south-eastern Switzerland (famous for its lakes), youll find Italian speakers. Trop cool, non ? You also might hear a slightly altered version: tre charg pour Soleure. (Hes a little dumb, right? In addition, some expressions have been borrowed from both Swiss and Standard German. Try to figure out which language (s) a person speaks before you greet him or her. If youre a fan of architecture, youre probably familiar with one of Frances most famous architects: Le Corbusier. Despite what some people think, Swiss French is really not that different from standard French. Even within Suisse Romande, there are regional variations. Some readers also mentioned the expression a joue. 4. It follows Modeste, who has just arrived at a strange city called Z, which exists at an unclear place or point in time. do the pear tree). Abeleere! Sophie Hunger generally draws out her clear and understandable Swiss French with herhoney-sweet voice, and some videos are available with subtitles to follow along, too. French is one of Switzerland's four national languages. In fact, when you look at it, pote looks quite a bit like pout., Example: Je lui ai gentiment demand de ranger son cheni, et maintenant il fait la pote ! So you recognize imbecile as an English insult as well as a French insult. Just so fun to say: Are these the best Swiss-German words to learn? Not consenting or withdrawing consent may adversely affect certain features and functions. Swiss French is slightly slower than standard French.