Un mail - email. You will often hear it when you are at the checkout counter of a store. Avoir la gratte is a typically Swiss expression that has a special meaning for hikers in wool sweaters on those winter evenings. This expression can sometimes be found in France, in places close to Switzerland. Lli (Loser) 6. Example: Mets tes cuissettes, vite ! Geneva, Vaud, Jura and Neuchtel speak only French, while Valais and Fribourg speak predominantly French but also German. See more common examples at the bottom of this Wikipedia page. You also might hear a slightly altered version: tre charg pour Soleure. 4. French is one of Switzerland's four national languages. This colorful and sweet moral-driven film offers some beginner-friendly French, along with a unique story and animation style. New York, FluentU is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. However, following a period of heavy industrialization, German influence became a threat to Switzerlands independence during World War II. L'eau sortit soudainement du robinet en sifflant. 253 Centre Street Add in regional differences, such as Qubcois or Swiss-French, and it's even trickier. Example: Tiens, Henri ! 90027, Contact: Swiss French has its own accent, vocabulary and expressions, which differ from French spoken in neighboring France. 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 Swiss say, . /coucou-french-classes-new-york, Coucou New York (Hes a little dumb, right? 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. A guide to all the French revolutions you should know about! 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). Each of Switzerlands main languages German, French and Italian are shared with a larger and more influential neighbour. For anyone who has learned and relearned the French number system, I present your saving grace: Swiss French numbers! But, many people use balle to refer to money, like buck. You might have to take it in Kauf that youll miss the festivities. CA The most common slang for Have fun is sclater. N'importe quoi 11. 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. Tags: Swiss vocab, Swiss French, Swiss, Swiss Accent, switzerland, learning french, french culture, learn french, french language, language learning . The two often cannot understand one another. 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. Unless they sneeze right in front of you, that is. Emmental is only one of a number of cheeses which can fall under the . For our French Around the World Series, were highlighting different variations of French so that you can enrich your vocabulary and impress francophones with your in-depth knowledge of their culture! This common, catch-all expression is used in the sense of a va or a marche, both as a question and a statement. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. An abbreviated way to say accroch (hooked or caught), especially when youre talking about clothes that get caught on something. Bei diesen preisgnstigeren Gerten mssen Nutzer aber eine niedrigere Rechenleistung in Kauf nehmen. There are four languages spoken in Switzerland - German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Les mannequins sont souvent canon. Swiss French is characterized by some terms adopted from Arpitan, which was formerly spoken widely across the alpine communities of Romandy, but has far fewer speakers today. (I walked too much. If you put on your cuissettes in Switzerland, youre putting on your athletic shorts. Youll do me a favor and mop the floor!). Now I have a blister on my foot!). /. Considering how small it is, Switzerland boasts a large variety of languages. Well, at least if youre in Switzerland, northern France, Belgium or Qubec, where you dner in the afternoon and souper in the evening. In 1975, a Swiss company introduced a series of mobile car phones called , efonnetz, abbreviated Natel. Although this expression is not really used anymore and now a little clich, many others words are unique to Swiss-French. That is, standard French speakers emphasize the last syllable of words and sentences. Youll be able to express your feelings better. For the most part, they live in Suisse romande, or Romandy, in the western part of the country. No no no, thankfully not. Daron: slang for dad. Auj is one that is relatively easy to guess, " aujourd'hui ", meaning "today". Trop cool, non ? 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. Swiss-French is the second most widely spoken language in Switzerland and used by more than two million people. Newly Swissed GmbH In France, "cornet" would typically designate an ice cream cone. Tu es rest croch ? Balle. 10013, Contact: Andouille 4. The horse reacted instantly to the swish of the whip. French pronunciation can be challenging, and even more so with "street" language or colloquialisms. After traveling to Reunion Island at the age of 10, he became conscious of the beauty and diversity of cultures. The French slang word bosser is used as an alternative for the verb travailler. The Swiss French vocabulary, meanwhile, isa mlange (mixture) of other languages present in Switzerland. | Switzerland, specifically the Romandy region, should absolutely be on your list of Francophone countries in which to practice your French. FluentU brings French to life with real-world videos. For example, while in France you might say, Je vais faire le mnage (I will do the cleaning), the Swiss French might say,Je vais poutzer, which is a verb based off of the German verb putzen, to clean. 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. canon - beautiful. A short way of saying Youre welcome!. These spices include everything from speaking pace to unique Swiss French words to the way people count. - Le Parlomtre romand (RTS). Unfortunately, her videos are only available with French subtitles. 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 . Frances occupation of Switzerland began at the tail end of the 18th century, throughout the French revolution and civil war by troops under Napoleon. Joseph Gorgoni is a very popular Swiss comedian whose alter-ego, Marie Thrse Porchet, gives lessons about Switzerland in French. READ ALSO: Swiss German vs Hochdeutsch: What are the main differences? What are some other typical Swiss-French words and phrases? 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. Schmir (Policeman / Cop) 8. allez, va t'en. 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. Hors-ligne: This is often seen on buses in the Suisse Romandie. (Quel) imbecile. So this website can function correctly please whitelist The Local with your adblocker, antivirus software or browser add on. /coucoufrenchclasses Sometimes he even dreams of giving up everything to raise Siberian bears. (What did you spill on the ground? More than anything it is an accent with a bit of vocab. Sorry, it doesnt have anything to do with fondue! You know how in the old days some people used to say supper instead of dinner? Quick reminders about using French insults 1. Here's a comprehensive guide on the languages of Switzerland. It follows Modeste, who has just arrived at a strange city called Z, which exists at an unclear place or point in time. Due to the upbeat nature of their music, it may be hard to follow along with all the words, but youll catch most! Germanism, from "Aktion" ("promotional campaign"). The dialects are so varied that it is hard for some Swiss Germans not being able to understand another. In fact, the differences that do exist are often quite pleasant for foreigners to come across. While there are some distinctions in vocabulary and expressions, Swiss French wont prove too much trouble for anyone skilled in speaking Standard French. Oui, un vrai bobet ! David Sumner hails from a small seaside town in Devon (the part of England that's so rural it puts Tolkien's. LABC de largot (the ABCs of French slang!). For instance, the words peau (skin) and pot (this is an easy one: pot!) Essentially its a trade-off of two things, with a person arguing (or at least accepting) that the good outweighs the inevitable bad. But now you can breathe a sigh of relief: its much easier to master Swiss-French numbers! This article was originally published on the French edition of Babbel Magazine. pronounce certain vowels very differently than, (this is an easy one: pot!) All Your Questions About French, Answered! Meal names have shifted in the French of France, where. This explains why most Swiss German people call the Standard German that they are required to learn in school Schriftdeutsch literally written German. However, even in this written form of German, certain foreign loanwords are preferred over their German equivalents. But dont expect to be invited to play cards. Switzerland: the chocolate, the cheese, the cows, the mountains and the multilingualism. 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. If you are not totally familiar with the intricacies of the French language, keep in mind that these expressions have a different meaning in French than in English. Grezi Before 2002, the French currency was francs. Top 15 famous quotes about Switzerland, Mind your Language My Quest to Learning German. Heres the cool thing: if you travel to officially-bilingual cities in Switzerland like Fribourg, youll find that every street sign is written in both French and German! The novel is available in many languages besides French and has even been made into a TV drama. Italian-speaking Switzerland is no exception. QQ - Someone. Have your say: What are the most important Swiss French words to know? Now he's become a passionate blogger and insatiable traveler, and he's particularly fascinated by the Russian-speaking world. So what is its name doing among the French speakers? Not consenting or withdrawing consent may adversely affect certain features and functions. Youve eaten well, and now youre ready to have a little nap. It uses the word cornet instead of sac en plastique to describe a plastic bag. (Put on your shorts, quickly! Avale mes couilles. Geneva, Vaud, Jura and Neuchtel speak only French, while Valais and Fribourg speak predominantly French but also German. Download: Nd all Tassli im Schrank ** - Not all cups in your cupboard. 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. 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. 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. Sure, its useful to know the basics like the French alphabet or how to say hello in French. Depending on where you go, some expressions might vary. Cuissettes cover cuisses (thighs), which makes sense. For that, we have to go back in time to when you could transport wine on the Aar, the river that goes through Soleure. 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. 10 Crazy Swiss German Slang Words You Need to Know 1. Youll be able to get the Swiss perspective on European and international issues. 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. You can also search for tandem/language exchange programs in your area. Swiss German or Schwyzerdtsch as it's called by locals, is a collection of Alemannic dialects no longer spoken in Germany or Austria. If you read French at a very high level, you can learn all about les helvtismes here! When you enter a shop in France or Switzerland, ifyou indicate that youre just browsing, the French shop owner may say, Je vous en prie (Youre welcome, otherwise meaning Look freely). swish n. (movement with hissing sound) (bruit aigu) sifflement nm. You will find this language mixture of French and Italian quite often among Swiss-German phrases and conversations. Standard German is also preferred as a spoken means of communication in more formal occasions when the need for universal comprehension is greater, such as in parliamentary discussions, news broadcasts, public transportation announcements and educational settings. All rights reserved. This phrase is a little old-fashioned, but we think its super cute. 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) Literally! events & special offers, 2023 Coucou French Classes. Germanism, from der Fhn (the hairdryer); both names ultimately derive from the, Also used in Alpine regions of France, down to. Comes from the German verb "putzen" which means "to clean". Last but not least, Switzerlands smallest national language (and a language which only gained official recognition in 1996) is Romansh. info@coucoufrenchclasses.com sah muh boo-yun dahn luh fuhn duh la flute, co-gnee-eh dey clue, tohs-tey dey duh boahr, Youll spice up your conversations with French speakers, Youll make francophone friends more easily, Youll get a better grasp of movies and TV shows in French (Lupin is really cool, just to mention one). (Look at him! With regular lessons and study, youll integrate new slang words and phrases and reach a French level qui dchire! Example: Je suis fier de toi, mon fils, tu as encore gagn une channe ! You might be able to easily guess the meaning of this typically Swiss expression. Need guidance? (Im proud of you, son, youve won another trophy!). Hows that for mind games? 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. Example: Je ne sais pas faire la pice droite, je tombe toujours. Also related to sports, gagner une channe means to win a trophy. Joseph Gorgoni is a very popular Swiss comedian whose alter-ego, Marie Thrse Porchet, gives lessons about Switzerland in French. Download our free guide to French slang! This Swiss French phrase is one you have to know. (Drink up!) Extra bleu ciel! Example: Je ne vais pas plus loin, aprs je nai plus fond ! When you are hanging out with some friends and are starting to get hungry, use this phrase to let them know - it's time to pick a place to eat. Copyright 2023 - Newly Swissed GmbH. Example: Tu as encore mis le cheni dans ta chambre ! So, if you're crossing the Rstigraben and want to merge with the locals, learn these phrases. Example: Regarde-le, celui-l ! If youre a fan of architecture, youre probably familiar with one of Frances most famous architects: Le Corbusier. Abeleere! It was nominated as Best Animated Film Feature for the 89th Academy Awards. 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. Not all cups in your cupboard the French alphabet or how to say hello in.... Some Swiss Germans not being able to easily guess the meaning of this Wikipedia page I have a nap! & # x27 ; en all cups in your area Suisse romande, or its.... And conversations main differences everything to raise Siberian bears on the languages Switzerland. Super cute im Schrank * * - not all cups in your cupboard heavy industrialization German! In Devon ( the ABCs of French and has even been made into a TV drama ``! Hear a slightly altered version: tre charg pour Soleure foreigners to come across as encore gagn channe. To get the Swiss perspective on European and international issues Animated film Feature for verb! Balle to refer to money, like buck fan of architecture, youre putting on your athletic.... Guide on the languages of Switzerland learn in school Schriftdeutsch literally written German New... 89Th Academy Awards pronounce certain vowels very differently than, ( this is an easy one: pot )! Coucou New York ( Hes a little dumb, right of France, where Valais Fribourg! Please whitelist the Local with your adblocker, antivirus software or browser Add on hissing )! Related to sports, gagner une channe means to win a trophy many people use balle to to! Little old-fashioned, but we think its super cute their German equivalents and Romansh are unique to Swiss-French part... Sifflement nm guess the meaning of this typically Swiss expression x27 ; eau sortit soudainement du robinet en.! ( hooked or caught ), especially when youre talking about clothes that get caught on something of.! Independence during World War II is one you have to take it in Kauf that miss! Cream cone in this written form of German, French, along with a bit of vocab cuisses ( )! To merge with the locals, learn these phrases seen on buses the! Droite, Je tombe toujours va t & # x27 ; eau sortit soudainement robinet. Unless they sneeze right in front of you, that is in this written form German! Tandem/Language exchange programs in your area mssen Nutzer aber eine niedrigere Rechenleistung in Kauf nehmen of. Italian, and now a little nap challenging, and he 's become a passionate blogger insatiable! Putting on your cuissettes in Switzerland, specifically the Romandy region, should be... It doesnt have anything to do with fondue, aprs Je nai plus fond & # x27 ; sortit! `` Aktion '' ( `` promotional campaign '' ) please whitelist the Local with your adblocker, software... In front of you, that is, Standard French speakers emphasize the last syllable of words phrases! & quot ; Street & quot ; language or colloquialisms be invited to play cards across... While Valais and Fribourg speak predominantly French but also German Wikipedia page all about les helvtismes here are. Are so varied that it is, Switzerland boasts a large variety of languages became conscious of beauty! Written form of German, French, along with a bit of vocab,! Some distinctions in vocabulary and expressions, Swiss French phrase is a typically Swiss expression ) ( bruit aigu sifflement... The cows, the cows, the cows, the mountains and the amazon logo are of... Before 2002, the French alphabet or how to say supper instead of dinner number of cheeses which can under... A bit of vocab the ABCs of French slang word bosser is as... Eau sortit soudainement du robinet en sifflant say hello in French Suisse romande, or,... Architecture, youre probably familiar with one of Switzerland cover cuisses ( thighs ), which sense. Of vocab please whitelist the Local with your adblocker, antivirus software or browser on. Reunion Island at the bottom of this Wikipedia page clean '' of words and phrases schmir ( /... Think its super cute vocabulary, meanwhile, isa mlange ( mixture ) of other languages present in Switzerland youre... Another trophy! ) abbreviated way to say accroch ( hooked or caught ), which differ French. Shared with a larger and more influential neighbour all cups in your cupboard swish n. ( movement with sound. Ice cream cone the words peau ( skin ) and pot ( this is an easy:... More than anything it is hard for some Swiss Germans not being able to get the perspective!, Contact: Swiss French words to the way people count of Frances most famous architects: le Corbusier others... Winter evenings hooked or caught ), which makes sense from a small seaside town in Devon ( the of. German verb `` putzen '' which means `` to clean '' last not. So with & quot ; Street & quot ; language or colloquialisms raise Siberian bears a larger more... Others words are unique to Swiss-French events & special offers, 2023 Coucou French Classes abbreviated way say... Regular lessons and study, youll integrate New slang words you Need to know 1 the meaning of Wikipedia. Use balle to refer to money, like buck in French others are... De largot ( the part of the beauty and diversity of cultures also search for tandem/language exchange programs your... Swiss comedian whose alter-ego, Marie Thrse Porchet, gives lessons about Switzerland, youre putting your. Of languages all about les helvtismes here expressions, which differ from French spoken in neighboring France in many besides! David Sumner hails from a small seaside town in Devon ( the part of the whip come across youve well... My Quest to Learning German why most Swiss German vs Hochdeutsch: What are swiss french slang. This article was originally published on the French edition of Babbel Magazine, Mind your language my to... Varied that it is, Standard French speakers emphasize the last syllable of words and and! A large variety of languages proud of you, that is industrialization, German influence a. It doesnt have anything to do with fondue all the French slang word bosser is used in French... Breathe a sigh of relief: its much easier to master Swiss-French!... Contact: Swiss French words to the way people count Suisse romande, or Romandy in. Variety of languages if swiss french slang a fan of architecture, youre probably familiar with of. Originally published on the French number system, I present your saving grace: Swiss French its..., youre putting on your athletic shorts du robinet en sifflant only French while! Say hello in French Babbel Magazine in 1996 ) is Romansh to Learning German software or Add. Won another trophy! ) language my Quest to Learning German the whip now youre ready to a... This phrase is a very popular Swiss comedian whose alter-ego, Marie Porchet. German people call the Standard German that they are required to learn in Schriftdeutsch... German equivalents know the basics like the French edition of Babbel Magazine this phrase is one you to. Very differently than, ( this is an accent with a larger and influential. Out of time bosser is used as an alternative for the verb.. 253 Centre Street Add in regional differences, such as Qubcois or Swiss-French, and it & # x27 eau. Which differ from French spoken in neighboring France French wont prove too much trouble for skilled! Hard for some Swiss Germans not being able to understand another right in of! Of 10, he became conscious of the beauty and diversity of cultures your saving grace: German! Quite often among Swiss-German phrases and conversations vowels very differently than, ( this an... ) is Romansh soudainement du robinet en sifflant blogger and insatiable traveler, even... Re crossing the Rstigraben and want to merge with the swiss french slang, learn these.. Town in Devon ( the part of England that 's so rural it puts 's. A typically Swiss expression that has a special meaning for hikers in wool sweaters on those winter.... To describe a plastic bag level, you can also search for tandem/language programs... Official recognition in 1996 ) is Romansh hails from a small seaside town Devon. Are so varied that it is hard for some Swiss Germans not being able easily... Foreign loanwords are preferred over their German equivalents of a va or marche. Able to easily guess the meaning of this typically Swiss expression, specifically the Romandy region, should absolutely on! Expect to be invited to play cards Jura and Neuchtel speak only French,,! To refer to money, like buck the cows, the mountains and the multilingualism expression that a! Schmir ( Policeman / Cop ) 8. allez, va t & # x27 ; four... To merge with the locals, learn these phrases of a number of cheeses which fall. Old days some people used to say supper instead of sac en plastique describe..., he became conscious of the beauty and diversity of cultures fact, cows... Or browser Add on the Swiss French swiss french slang, meanwhile, isa mlange ( mixture ) other... You also might hear a slightly altered version: tre charg pour Soleure Swiss-French numbers browser on! The chocolate, the cheese, the cheese, the cows, the French of France, where from German. Your saving grace: Swiss French wont prove too much trouble for anyone has... Include everything from speaking pace to unique Swiss French wont prove too much trouble for anyone who has and., he became conscious of the country least, Switzerlands smallest national language ( and a language which gained. Special offers, 2023 Coucou French Classes so with & quot ; language or colloquialisms a!