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Swiss German Dictionary



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)
aadĆ¼te (to hint at sth) also: aatƶne
Aakunft (arrival)
Aaruef (phone call)
aatƶne (to hint) also: adĆ¼Ć¼te
abartig (kinky)
abegheie (to fall from something)
Abflug (takeoff)
abflĆ¼ge (to takeoff)
abhaue (to crop or to bunk)
Abreis (departure)
abreise (to depart)
abverheit (failed)
abverreckt (totally failed)
Ade, Adjƶ (formal goodbye)
Advent (advent, season before Christmas)
Adventschranz (advent wreath)
Adventskalender (Christmas calendar)
AdventsmƤrt (advent market)
AgƤnda (diary)
Alles Guete zum Geburi! (Happy Birthday!) also: HƤppi Bƶrsdei!
alpott (again and again)
amigs (sometimes)
Ƥngstirnig (narrow-minded) 
Anke (butter) also: Butter
aper (snow free)
Arschbombe (cannonball, jumping butt first into the pool)
Ƅtti (dad in Bernese dialect)
ƤuƤ (fat change!, come on!)
Auto (car)
autofahre (to drive a car, to ride a car)
autostƶpple (to hitchhike, lit. to stop a car)
ƤxgĆ¼si (from french "excusez", sorry)

B
Baby (baby) also: BƩbƩ, Buschi, Poppi
Badchappe (bathing cap)
Badchleid (bathing suit for women)
bade (to take a bath)
Badefeerie (beach vacation)
bƤdele (to swim, to play in the water)
Badhose (bathing trunks)
Badi (public pool) also: SchwĆ¼mmbi
BadtĆ¼echli (towel)
Balkonie (staycation, lit. imaginary land on your balcony)
BƤredrƤck (licorice)
BƩbƩ (baby) also: Baby, Buschi
Berg (mountain)
BeschprƤchig (meeting)
Bett (bed)
BettflƤsche (hot water bottle)
BettmĆ¼mpfeli (bedtime snack)
BewƤrbig (application)
bewundere (to admire)
Bibeli (chick, pimple)
Binggis (children)
bisle (to pee) also: brĆ¼nzle
biwakiere (to bivouac)
bizzeli (a little bit)
BlƤtter - leaves
Bleischtift (pencil)
Blƶdian (idiot) also: Tubel
blƶterle (to lollygag)
Blueme (flower)
BlĆ¼emli (little flower)
blĆ¼ttle (walk around undressed)
BƶllƤ (ball, onion (only in Zurich dialect))
Bratwurscht (bratwurst)
briegge (to cry) also: greine, grƤnne, hĆ¼Ć¼le, brĆ¼ele
BrĆ¼eder (brother)
BrĆ¼ederli (little brother)
brĆ¼ele (to cry) also: greine, grƤnne, hĆ¼Ć¼le, briegge
BrĆ¼nneli (washbasin, sink) also: Lawabo
brĆ¼nzle (to pee) also: bisle
bruuchbar (useful)
bsinne (to remember)
bsoffe (drunk)
Bsoffene (a drunk)
Bsuecher (visitor)
bĆ¼Ć¤tzƤ (to work) also: chrampfe, schaffe
BĆ¼Ć¤tzer (worker)
bueche (to book)
Buggel (bump)
Buggeli (little bumps, bumps on a ski slope)
Buggelpischte (mogul slope)
BĆ¼ro (office)
BĆ¼rzi (chignon) also: HĆ¼ppi, PfĆ¼rzi
Bus (bus)
Buschi (baby) also: BƩbƩ, Baby
BuschiwƤgeli (pram)
busfahre (to ride a bus, to drive a bus)
BĆ¼si (cat) also: Busle, Chatz
Busle (cat) also: BĆ¼si, Chatz
BĆ¼tschgi ((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: ZƤltplatz
Chalet (chalet)
chalt (cold)
ChƤlti (coldness)
Chappe (touque, hat)
Charte (map, card)
ChƤs (cheese)
Chaschte (wardrobe, strong and heavy man)
ChƤschĆ¼echli (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
chlƶpfe (to bang)
Chlƶpfer (a Cervelat, a typical Swiss sausage)
chlĆ¼Ć¼be (to pinch)
Chnebel (large piece of wood)
chneble (to gag someone)
choche (to cook)
Chochtopf (cooking pot)
Chopf (head)
Chopfhƶrer (head phone)
Chƶpfler (dive with head first) also: Schpiessli
Chopfweh (headache) also: Grindweh
chrable (to crawl)
chrƤble (to scratch)
ChrƤlleli (beads)
chrampfe (to work hard) 
Chriesi (cherry, cherries)
Chriesischtei (cherry stone)
Chrippe (manger, day care center)
Chrischtbaum (Christmas tree)
Chrischtchindli (Christ child)
Chrone (crown)
Chrotepƶsche (dandelion) also: Soiblueme
ChrĆ¼simĆ¼si (Chaos) also: Durenand
Chuchi (kitchen)
ChuchichƤschtli (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!)
ChĆ¼ndigung (letter of dismissal)
Chunnsch mit mir go Znacht Ƥsse? (Will you go out to dinner with me?)
ChĆ¼rbis - pumpkin
chĆ¼schele (to whisper in someone's ear)
chĆ¼tzele (to tickle)
chĆ¼tzelig (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 hĆ¼bsch us. (you look so pretty)
Du machsch mi glĆ¼cklich (you make me happy)
Dubel (idiot) also: Idiot
Durenand (chaos) also: ChrĆ¼simĆ¼so
durenand sii (to be messy, confused)
dusse (outside)
E
Egoischt (egoist)
eh (anyway)
Eichƶrnli (squirrel)
Eier fƤrbe (to color eggs, e.g. by cooking them in dye or drawing on them)
Eier sueche (to look for the eggs)
EiertƤtsch (egg bump, i.e. an Easter game involving eggs)
eimal (once)
Eimal Kaffi bittschƶn (One coffee please)
Eltere (parents)
En Guete! (enjoy your meal, bon appetit)
En Huffe GƤld (a pile of money)
En Schƶne (have a nice day)
En schƶne Valentinstag (happy valentinesday)
ErdnĆ¼ssli (peanut, typical gift from Santa)
ErlƤbnis (adventure, experience)
erschte Auguscht (1st of August = Switzerland's national day)
erstuunlich (astounding)
Es fƤgt (it's fun) 
Es guets Nƶis (happy new year)
Es menschelet (there are interpersonal problems)
Es schƶns WucheƤnd (have a nice weekend)
Eus gohts guet (we're all right)
F
FƤhli (fur)
Familie (family)
farbig - colorful
FƤscht (party)
fasle (to maunder, to babble)
Faul (foul)
Feerie (holiday, vacation)
Feschtplatte (hard disk)
figuretle (busywork)
Finke (slipper)
FisimatƤnte 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: FlugzĆ¼Ć¼g
FlugzĆ¼Ć¼g (airplane) also: Flugi
Fluug (flight)
Fluugangscht (fear of flying)
flĆ¼Ć¼ge (to fly)
Fluughafe (airport)
fƶtele (to take photos)
Fƶteli (photo) also: Foti
Foti (photo) also: Fƶteli
Fƶtzeli (scrap of paper)
Fotzelschnitte (lit. slice of paper scraps, French Toast)
Frau (woman, wife)
Frauefurz (firecracker, lit. A woman's fart)
Friitig (friday)
FrĆ¼ehlig (spring)
FrĆ¼nd (boyfriend, friend)
FrĆ¼ndin (girlfriend, friend)
frĆ¼sch (fresh)
fruschtriert (frustrated)
Fudi (butt) also: FĆ¼dli
FĆ¼dli (butt) also: Fudi
fĆ¼dliblutt (buttnaked) 
FĆ¼ess (feet)
Fuessball (football, soccer, also lit. the soccer ball)
Fuessball spiele (to play soccer) also: tschutte
Fuessballplatz (soccer field) also: Tschuttiplatz
fĆ¼essle (to touch each others feet)
fulƤnze (to relax, to do nothing)
Furz (fart)
FĆ¼Ć¼r (fire)
fĆ¼Ć¼rle (to make a fire, to make a bonfire)
FĆ¼Ć¼rwƤrk (fireworks)
G
ga blĆ¼emle (to go pick flowers)
ga bĆ¼gle (to go to work)
Garracho (high speed)
Gascht (guest)
GƤscht (guests)
Geburi (birthday)
genialschtens (awesome)
GepƤck (luggage, baggage)
gfroore (frozen)
gfrĆ¼Ć¼re (to freeze)
gfĆ¼rchig (creepy)
gheie (to fall)
ghƶre (to hear)
Gigampfi (seesaw)
Gigetschi (apple core) also: BĆ¼tschgi, Groibschi
gigele (to chuckle, to giggle)
Glattiis (black ice)
gleitschirmflĆ¼ge (paragliding)
glette (to iron)
Glƶgglibƶƶgg (silly, annoying person)
Glugsi (hiccup) also: Hitzgi
Glunge (puddle)
glĆ¼schtle (to look with envie) 
GmĆ¼etlichkeit (coziness)
GnĆ¼ss es! (have fun!)
gnĆ¼sse (enjoy sth)
Gnusswuche (week of indugence)
goisse (to shriek)
Gomfi (jam) also: Gonfi
Gonfi (jam) also: Gomfi
Goof (brat)
Gool (goal)
Gooli (goalie)
gƶƶtsche (to play with water)
Gopfriedstutz (darn it)
Gƶppel (old car, old vehicle, old bicycle)
Gorner (corner kick)
gƶƶtsche (to play with water)
grƤnne (to cry, to weep) also: greine, hĆ¼Ć¼le, briegge, brĆ¼ele
grau (grey)
Grind (head)
GrittibƤnz (bread roll in the shape of a man)
Gromi (grandma) also: Grosi, Grosmami
Gropi (grandpa) also: Grospapi, GrosƤtti
GrosƤtti (grandpa) also: Gropi, Grospapi
Groschind (grandchild, grandchildren)
Groseltere (grandparents)
Grosi (grandma) also: Gromi, Grosmami
Grosmami (grandma) also: Gromi, Grosi
Grospapi (grandpa) also: Gropi, GrosƤtti
Grossmami (grandma)
Grossmeitli (granddaughter)
GrĆ¼bschi (apple core) also: BĆ¼tschgi, Gigetschi
GrĆ¼cht (rumor)
GrĆ¼ezi (formal hello) also: Griezi, GrĆ¼essech 
GrĆ¼Ć¼sch (sound)
GschƤnkli (gift, gifts))
GschwĆ¼schterti (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)
GĆ¼feli (pin, needle pin)
Gummistiefel (rain boots)
gumpe (to jump)
gĆ¼nschtig (cheap, good prize)
GĆ¼sel (trash)
GĆ¼selchĆ¼bel (trash can)
Gutsch (sip or spill)
gĆ¼xle (to peek, to look)
Gwitter (thunderstorm)
H
Haar (hair)
Haargummeli (elastic hair band)
Haarschnitt (haircut)
habere (to eat)
HackbrƤtt (zither)
hƤimelig (cozy)
Halbpension (half board)
Hallo (hello)
Hampfle (handful)
HƤndsche (gloves, mittens)
HƤppi Bƶrsdei! (Happy Birthday!) also: Alles Guete zum Geburi!
HƤrdƶpfel (potato)
HƤrdƶpfelstock (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 zƤme (informal hello to a group)
HoigĆ¼mper (grasshopper)
Hose (pants)
Hosesack (pocket)
Hostel (hostel)
Hotel (hotel)
Hotelzimmer (hotel room)
HudigƤgeler (Swiss folk music)
Hueschte (to cough, a cough)
HĆ¼lle (casing, covering)
Hund (dog)
HĆ¼ndli (puppy)
Hundsverlochete (party in the hills)
HĆ¼ppi (chignon) also: BĆ¼rzi, PfĆ¼rzi
hĆ¼Ć¼le (to weep) also: greine, grƤnne, brĆ¼ele, briegge
Huus (hous)
Huusfrau (housewife)
HuustĆ¼r (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 gƤrn (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 nĆ¼m. (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)iischlƶfernd (soporific)
iischalt (ice cold)
iischneebele (to cover someone with snow)
Iishockey (hockey)
IisrƤge (ice rain)
Iiszapfe (icicle)
iiu (sure)
in Usgang goh (to go out)
inegumpe (dive in, jump in)
J
jƶdele (to yodel) also: jodle
jodle (to yodel) also: jƶdele
Joggel (clumsy person, strange person, funny person)
jƶggele (to play table football) also: tƶggele
Jƶggelichaschte (table football) also: Tƶggelichaschte
Jugi (youth hostel)
jung (young)
jungi LĆ¼t (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)
KĆ¼nschtler (artist)
Kunschtsammlig (art collection)
L
Lampe (lamp)
LƤmpe (brawl)
langi Unterhose (long johns)
Langwili (boredom)
LƤtzli (bib)
lauffe (to walk) 
Lawabo (washbasin, sink) also: BrĆ¼nneli
Lawine (avalanche)
Lawinegfohr (avalanche danger)
lehre (to study, to teach)
lerne (to study)
Liebe Gruess (kind regards) also: Liebi GrĆ¼ess
Liebi (love)
Liebi GrĆ¼ess (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)
Lƶli (fool, student driver)
Los mir zue! (listen to me!)
lose (to listen)
luege (to look)
Luft (air)
Luftibus (wanton person)
Lunch (picnic lunch)
lĆ¼Ć¼chte (to shine, to glow)
LĆ¼Ć¼chtstift (highlighter)
Luune (mood)
luunisch (moody)
lĆ¼Ć¼te (ring)
LĆ¼Ć¼tispiili (ring and run)
M
Maa (man, husband)
MƤgerlimucki (a skinny child)
Mami (mom) also: Mueti, Mutti
mampfe (to eat)
Mandarinli (mandarine)
MƤntig (Monday)
Marroni (edible chestnuts)
Marronitschtand (Marroni booth)
MarroniverchƤufer (Marroni vendor)
Marzipaneili (marzipan eggs)
Masseentlassig (collective dismissal)
Meer (sea, ocean)
mega fein (delicious)
MenĆ¼ (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: mƶtzele
mƶtzele (to complain, to baa) also: motze
mĆ¼ed si (to be tired)
Mueter (mother)
Mueti (mom) also: Mami
N
NƤbel (fog)
NƤbelmeer (sea of fog)
nƤblig (foggy)
Nacht (night)
NachzĆ¼gler (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)
nĆ¼Ć¼sse  (to sneeze)
O
ƶbbe (approximately, sometimes)
ƶbber (someone)
ƶbber bewundere (to admire sb)
ƶbber speiche (to kick sb)
ƶbberem Honig ums Muul schmire (to butter sb up)
ƶbbis (something)
ƶbbis bewundere (to admire sth)
ƶbbis ufgƤh (to jettison sth, to give up sth)
OhregrĆ¼bler (earwig)
Ɩpfel (apple, apples)
Oschtere (easter)
Oschtereili (easter egg)
Oschterhaas (easter bunny)
OschterhƤsli (little easter bunny)
OschtermƤntig (Easter Monday, a national holiday)
OschternƤschtli (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)
PfnĆ¼sel (cold, runny nose)
PfĆ¼deri (little rascal)
PfĆ¼rzi (chignon) also: BĆ¼rzi, HĆ¼ppi
Pilz (mushroom, mushrooms)
Pnƶ (tire)
Pƶgg (puck)
Poppi (baby) also: Baby, BebƩ, Buschi
Poscht (mail, the post office)
poschte (to shop)
PoschtiwƤgeli (shopping cart)
Proscht! (cheers!)
Proviant (provisions)
PrĆ¼efig (exam)
Publikum (audience)
Puff (mess, brothel)
Q
quƤngele (to be querulous)
quƤngelig (querulous)
Quartier (neighborhood)
quirlig (lively)
quƤtsche (to squeeze)

R
RƤbe - turnip, beetroot
RƤbeliechtli (beetroot lantern)
RƤbeliechtliumzug (beetroot lantern walk)
rƤchts (right, the right side)
rƤchtzittig (on time)
Rad (wheel)
RƤge (rain)
RƤgeboge (rainbow)
RƤgemantel (rain coat)
RƤgeschirm (umbrella)
RƤgetropfe (rain drops)
Rahm (cream) also: Nidle
RƤnzler: (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)
ReisebĆ¼ro (travel agency)
Reisefieber (wanderlust)
ReisefĆ¼dli (someone who travels a lot)
ReisefĆ¼ehrer (travel book, guide book)
Reiseziel (destination)
relƤxe (to relax)
Reschti (restaurant)
Riitseili (swing) also: Riitti
Riitti (swing) also: Riitseili
ring (easy, easily)
Rootwii (red wine)
Rƶschti (Swiss potato pancake)
Rƶschtigrabe (imaginary line that separates the French and German speaking parts of Switzerland)
Ross (horse)
Rƶssli (small horse)
Rossƶpfel (road apple)
Rucksack (backpack)
RĆ¼ebli (carrot)
RĆ¼eblitorte (carrot cake)
rĆ¼ere (to stir, to throw)
RĆ¼erei (scrambled egg)
Rutschbahn (slide)
Ruum (room)
RĆ¼Ć¼m (rooms)
S
SAC HĆ¼tte (cottage of the Swiss Alpine Club)
Sack (bag)
sƤiche (to rain, to piss)
Samichlaus (Santa Claus)
Samschtig (Saturday)
sƤndele (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)
SchlƤckzĆ¼g (sweets, candy) also: Zeltli, TƤfeli
SchlƤger (hockey stick)
Schlamassel (mess)
Schlirg (scrawl)
Schlitte (sledge)
Schlittschueh (skate, ice skate)
schlittschĆ¼ehle (to ice skate)
Schluck (sip)
SchlĆ¼ckli (a little sip)
schmƶcke (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)
Schneeflƶckli (small snowflake)
Schneeflƶckli (snowflake)
Schneefrau (snow woman)
Schneemaa (snowman)
Schneeschturm (snow storm)
schneie (to snow)
schnorchle (to snorkle)
Schnudderlumpe (lit. snot cloth, handkerchief)
Schnuddernaase (running nose)
SchnĆ¼ggel (cuty)
schnĆ¼tze (to blow one's nose)
schockierend (shocking)
Schƶggeler (someone who has an easy life)
Schƶggeli (small chocolates)
Schoggi (chocolate)
Schoggichueche (chocolate cake)
Schoggihaas (chocolate bunny)
SchoggischtƤngel (chocolate stick)
Schƶni Ferie (happy holidays)
Schƶni Wiehnacht (marry Xmas)
Schoppe (baby milk bottle)
Schpelsache (toys, lit. playing things)
Schpiessli (dive with head first) also: Chƶpfler
Schpinnhupele (cobweb)
Schpoiz-Chnebel (recorder, flute)
Schpriisse (splitter, splinter)
schpringe (to run) also: seckle
SchprungbrƤtt (diving board)
SchprĆ¼tze (injection, syringe)
schprĆ¼tze (to slosh, to besplatter)
schriibe (to write)
SchtƤge (stairs) 
Schtange (bar, half a liter of beer)
SchtƤrn (star) 
SchtƤrnli (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)
SchtĆ¼ckli (morsel)
schtudiere (to reflect or to study)
Schtutz (Swiss Franc or a steep ascent) 
schĆ¼ch (timid)
Schuel (school)
Schuelig (training)
Schuum (foam)
Schwager (brother-in-law)
schwƤnze (to play hooky)
Schwiegereltere (parents-in-law)
Schwiegermueter (mother-in-law)
Schwiegervatter (father-in-law)
Schwiiz (Switzerland)
SchwiizerdĆ¼tsch (Swiss German)
Schwƶ (sis)
Schwƶgerin (sister-in-law)
Schwƶschter (sister)
Schwƶschterli (little sister)
SchwĆ¼mmbi (public pool) also: Badi
SchwĆ¼mmbrĆ¼le (goggles)
schwĆ¼mme (to swim)
seckle (to run) also: schpringe
Seegfrƶrni (freezing of a lake)
SehenswĆ¼rdigkeit (tourist attraction)
singe (to sing)
Sitzig (meeting)
Soiblueme (dandelion) also: Chrotepƶsche
Souvenir (souvenir)
Spazifizottel (stroll, walk)
Stadtplan (city map)
Stadtrundfahrt (sightseeing tour in a city)
Strƶfzgi (extra exercise)
Summer (summer)
Summerfeerie (summer vacation)
sumpfig (boggy)
Sunne (sun)
Sunnebrand (sunburn)
SunnegrƤm (sunscreen)
sĆ¼nnele (to sun tan)
Sunneschirm (sunshade)
Sunntig (Sunday)
sĆ¼Ć¼ferli (gradually, carefully)
Suuser (young wine)
T
tƤderle (to sneak, to squeal, to tell on someone)
TƤderlisack (someone who tells on someone)
TƤfeli (candy, sweets) also: Zeltli
tanke (to refuel)
Tannebaum (fir tree)
Tante (aunt)
TƤsche (bag)
tƤubele (to outdare)
Tee (tea)
TeebĆ¼teli (tea bag)
telefoniere (to make a phone call)
tifig (quickly)
tƶggele (to play table football) also: jƶggele
Tƶggelichaschte (table football) also: Jƶggelichaschte
tƶnt guet (sounds good)
tƶƶne (to sound)
trampe (to pedal)
Truube (grape, grapes)
TrĆ¼Ć¼beli (small grapes)
tschalpe (to walk)
tschƤttere (to judder)
TschĆ¼ss (bye [to a friend])
TschĆ¼ss zƤmme (bye all)
TschĆ¼ssli (cheerio, bye)
tschutte (to boot, to play soccer)
tschutte (to play soccer) also: Fuessball spiele
tschĆ¼ttele (to play with a soccer ball, easy going soccer playing)
Tschuttiplatz (soccer field) also: Fuessballplatz
Tubel (idiot) also: Blƶdian
TĆ¼echli (towel)
tĆ¼nterle (to buy unnecessary small things)
TĆ¼r (door)
Turischt (sightseer)
Turm (tower)
tĆ¼Ć¼r (expensive)
U
Ć¼bernachte (to stay over night)
Ɯbernachtig (accommodation, overnight stay)
Ɯberstunde (overtime)
Ɯberziit (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)
UslƤnder (foreigner)
Uslandschwiizer (expat)
Uusflug (day trip, excursion)
uuspacke (to unpack)
uusschlofe (to sleep in)
V
Vati (dad) also: Papi, Ƅti, Vatter
Vatter (father) also: Papi, Ƅti, 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)
verschĆ¼che (to frighten off)
verschwƤnde (to waste)
vertraulich (confidential) 
Verwandti (relatives)
Viel GlĆ¼ck zum Geburi! (happy birthday!)
vƶgeliwohl (to feel very comfortable)
Vollpension (full board)
voorig (enough, left over)
W
WƤie (pie, cake)
wƤlsch (swiss-french)
WƤlt (world)
Wandercharte (trail map)
wandere (to wander, to hike)
Wanderig (hike)
Wanderschueh (hiking boots)
Wanderweg (hiking trail, hiking track)
Was hesch hĆ¼t 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)
WiehnachtsmƤrt (Christmas market)
Wieviel choschtet das? (how much does that cost?)
Wieviel? (how much?)
Wii (wine)
WiilƤset - 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-Ć -vis)
Wo? (where)
Wuche (week)
Wullepulli (woolen sweater)
Wurscht (sausage)
wuschle (dishevel)
wuschlig (disheveled)

X
Y
Z
ZƤh (teeth)ZahbĆ¼rschteli (toothbrush)
Zah (tooth)
zƤhbutze (to brush your teeth)
Zahpaschta (thoothpaste)
ZƤlt (tent)
zƤlte (to sleep in a tent)
ZƤltplatz (campground) also: Campingplatz
zart (tender, gentle)
Zartbitterschoggi (bittersweet chocolate)
Zeltli (sweets, candy) also: TƤfeli
Ziischtig (Tuesday)
Ziit (time)
Ziitgeischt (zeitgeist)
Zimmerservice (room service)
Zmittag (lunch)
Zmorge (breakfast)
Zmorgebuffet (breakfast buffet)
zmƶrgele (to eat your breakfast in a unhurried way) 
Znacht (dinner)
ZnĆ¼ni (second breakfast)
Zoll (customs)
Zuckereili (sugar eggs, candy in egg shape)
zuemache (close) also: zuetue
zuetue (close) also: zuemache
zĆ¼gle (to move) 
Zum Wohl! (cheers!) also: Proscht!
Zuug (train)
zuugfahre (to ride a train)
Zvieri (tea time)
Zwilling (twin)
zwitschere (to twitter)



Ā© 2011-2020 IRENE WYRSCH "A HUMOROUS GUIDE TO SWITZERLAND" ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Comments

  1. how do you say kiss kiss in swiss slang
    doc johnny

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Depending on your dialect it would be 'kĆ¼ssli kĆ¼ssli' or 'kƶssli kƶssli'. In Bernese Swiss German they might say 'mĆ¼ntschi mĆ¼ntschi' but I'm not entirely sure sind that is not my native dialect. Hope this helps!

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Something like "bree-eh-ggah" with a strong G sound.

      Delete
  3. Amazing dictionary you have created. :-) As a person from Solothurn (near Bern region) we use the word "ƤuƤ" 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 ƄUƄ no cho rƤgne. = "It MAY rain later." / "It is PROBABLY going to rain later.") or as a negative form ("Dr Michi chunnt jetzt ƄUƄ chum no a d'Party." = "AS IF Michael will still come to the party at this time.").

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your input. It's definitely an interesting word!

      Delete
  4. My 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.

    My 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 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.
      I can understand how it gets confusing though. Especially if you throw German in the mix. :)

      Delete
  5. 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!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would be "eifach sii" which literally means "to simply be".

      Delete
  6. Is there a Swiss German version of the word "ready"?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course. It would be "bereit". But often we use the english "ready" as well!

      Delete
  7. This is amazing please post more Iā€™m trying to teach my American friends

    ReplyDelete

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