Bütschgi, Groibschi & Gütschi

Swiss German is a strange language. It is probably more than just another dialect of German although there is some dispute about this. How else could you explain the many sub-dialects of Swiss German?

Every region has it's own version of Swiss German: Berndütsch (Bernese German), Züridütsch (Zurich German) or Bündnerdütsch (Grisons German) are just a few well known examples of Swiss German dialects. Of course, there are also similarities between the dialects and many times a dialect is perfectly understandable for someone from outside the region, as is the case for Aargauerdütsch (Aargau German) for example.

How to say 'Apple Core' in different Swiss German dialects

The diversity of dialects of Swiss German is best shown with a good example. I recently found this map with Swiss German words for "apple core" and was surprised to learn that many people in Switzerland don't use my own familiar "Bütschgi". In fact, there are 30 different ways to say "apple core" in Swiss German.

Güegi/Giegi
Uürbsli
Güürbsi
Bütschgi
Bitzgi
Bitschgi
Gütschi
Butz
Buschgi
Butschgi
Bäck
Grääni
Bäxi
Grüüzi
Gäggi
Bätzgi
Gigetschi
Groibschi/Gräibschi
Groitschi/Gröötschi
Grübschi/Gribschi
Bürzi
Bätschgi
Chääre
Murmutz
Urssi
ds Inn(d)ri
Huusi
Spuele
Bixi
Butze

Many of these sound pretty similar (Bütschgi, Butschgi, Bitschgi, etc.) but there are also a few very unique ones in this list. My personal favorite is "ds Inn(d)ri" which is used in parts of the canton of Valais. Translated literally it simply means "the inner part".

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