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How to Say 'Holiday' in Swiss German


Airplane - H.D.Volz  / pixelio.de

The summer months are approaching quickly and with them coming closer Swiss citizens are getting ready for their yearly summer vacation. Many Swiss families make use of the relatively long summer school break to visit a sunnier and warmer country like Italy, Greece or Spain. However, quite a few Swiss people actually prefer to stay at home during their vacation or to travel and hike somewhere in Switzerland.

Swiss German Vocabulary for Travelers

Whatever your preferences for this summer, I thought you might wanted to polish your travel vocabulary in Swiss German. This (non conclusive) list of travel terms in Swiss German which I like to call Swiss German Travel Dictionary will provide you with a good start into this venture. If you believe some words or expressions are missing let me know so I can add them! Enjoy!

Swiss German Travel Dictionary

aacho (to arrive)
Aakunft (arrival)
abflüge (to takeoff)
Abflug (takeoff)
Abreise (departure)
abreise (to depart)
Auto (car)
autofahre (to drive a car, to ride a car)
autostöpple (to hitchhike, lit. to stop a car)
bädele (to swim, to play in the water)
Badefeerie (beach vacation)
Badi (public pool) also: Schwümmbi
Balkonie (staycation, lit. imaginary land on your balcony)
biwakiere (to bivouac)
bueche (to book)
Bus (bus)
busfahre (to drive a bus, to ride a bus)
Buurehof-Feerie (vacation on a farm)
campiere (to camp out)
Campingplatz (campground) also: Zältplatz
Chalet (chalet)
Charte (map)
dinne (inside)
dusse (outside)
Erläbnis (adventure, experience)
Feerie (holidays, vacation)
Fluug (flight)
Fluugangscht (fear of flying)
Fluughafe (airport)
Flugi (airplane)
Flugzüg (airplane)
flüüge (to fly)
Föteli (photos)
fötele (to take photos)
fulänze (to do nothing, to take it easy)
Gascht (guest)
Gäscht (guests)
Gepäck (luggage, baggage)
günschtig (cheap, good price)
Halbpension (half board)
Hostel (hostel)
Hotel (hotel)
Hotelzimmer (hotel room)
ID (Swiss identity card)
iipacke (to bag something)
Jugi (youth hostel)
Koffer (suitcase)
Liegestuehl (deck chair)
Lunch (picnic lunch you bring on a hike)
Meer (sea, ocean)
Menü (menu)
Natuur (nature, outdoors)
Pass (passport)
Passaschier (passenger)
Passkontrolle (passport control)
Pauschalreis (package tour, all-inclusive vacation)
Quartier (neighborhood)
Reis (trip, journey)
reise (to travel)
Reisebüro (travel agency)
Reisefieber (wanderlust)
Reisefüehrer (travel book, guide book)
Reiseziel (destination)
reläxe (to relax)
Reschti (restaurant)
Rucksack (backpack)
SAC Hütte (hut of the Swiss Alpine Club)
sändele (to play with sand)
Schiff (boat, ship)
schifffahre (to ride a boat, to ride a ship)
schnorchle (to snorkle)
Schtrand (beach)
Schwümmbi (pool, public pool) also: Badi
schwümme (to swim)
Sehenswürdigkeit (tourist attraction)
Souvenir (souvenir)
Stadtplan (city map)
Stadtrundfahrt (sightseeing tour in a city)
Summerfeerie (summer vacation)
Sunne (sun)
Sunnegräm (sunscreen)
Sunneschirm (sunshade)
sünnele (to sun tan)
Täsche (bag)
tanke (to refuel)
tüür (expensive)
Übernachtig (accommodation, overnight stay)
übernachte (to stay over night)
Usland (overseas, countries outside of Switzerland)
Uusflug (day trip, excursion)
uuspacke (to unpack)
verreise (to travel, to go on a journey)
Vollpension (full board)
wandere (to hike)
Wanderig (hike)
Zält (tent)
zälte (to sleep in a tent)
Zältplatz (campground) also: Zältplatz
Zimmerservice (room service)
Zmorgebuffet (breakfast buffet)
Zoll (customs)
Zuug (train)
zuugfahre (to ride a train)


More Swiss German words and expressions can be found in the Swiss German Dictionary.



© 2013 IRENE WYRSCH "A HUMOROUS GUIDE TO SWITZERLAND" ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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