Many thanks to @swiss_german who provided me with a good basic Swiss German vocabulary to start this dictionary! Sadly enough, her twitter account has been deleted now. I hope that this Swiss German dictionary will be useful to many expats in Switzerland and other people interested in the Swiss German language!
I also created a list with online resources for learners of Swiss German, you can find it here:
Resources for Learners of Swiss German.
If you have additions or comments on this Swiss German Dictionary or if you want to use parts of this dictionary on your website or blog, please contact me! Danke!
Swiss German Dictionary (alphabetically ordered)
| A |
| 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) |
B |
| 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) |
| C |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| E |
| 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) |
| F |
| 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) also: 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) |
| G |
| 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) |
| H |
| 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)) |
| I |
| 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) |
| 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)
|
| J |
| 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) |
K |
| 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) |
| L |
| 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) |
| M |
| 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 |
| N |
| 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) |
| O |
| 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) |
| P |
| 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) |
| Q |
| quängele (to be querulous) |
| quängelig (querulous) |
| Quartier (neighborhood) |
| quirlig (lively) |
| quätsche (to squeeze) |
R |
| 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) |
| S |
| 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) |
| T |
| 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) |
| U |
| 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) |
| V |
| 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) |
| W |
| 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) |
X |
| Y |
| Z |
| 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) |
© 2011-2020 IRENE WYRSCH "A HUMOROUS GUIDE TO SWITZERLAND" ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
how do you say kiss kiss in swiss slang
ReplyDeletedoc johnny
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!
DeleteHow do you pronounce 'briegge'?
ReplyDeleteSomething like "bree-eh-ggah" with a strong G sound.
DeleteAmazing 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.").
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input. It's definitely an interesting word!
DeleteMy 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.
ReplyDeleteMy 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.
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.
DeleteI can understand how it gets confusing though. Especially if you throw German in the mix. :)
How do you say "To Be" like not to do some thing but just simply be. Like when you have a cup of hot cocoa and look out at the beautiful lake and just be. AND how to say "imagine" Thank you for this great list!
ReplyDeleteIt would be "eifach sii" which literally means "to simply be".
DeleteIs there a Swiss German version of the word "ready"?
ReplyDeleteOf course. It would be "bereit". But often we use the english "ready" as well!
Delete