Avale mes couilles. It might come as a relief to foreigners living in one of the French-speaking cantons that differences between the Swiss version of the language and the one spoken in France is much smaller than the difference between standard German and Schwyzerdtch. This Swiss French phrase is one you have to know. Andouille 4. In Switzerland they say someone a son fond (has their bottom) when they reach the bottom of a pool or lake with their feet. Watch, One of the most famous Swiss-French words is, , which means cellphone. The most obvious example of Swiss multilingualism comes in the form of the numerous international companies, banks, scientific bodies and political organizations setting up shop in Switzerland due to the multilingual workforce readily available in the country. Famous for being one of the best countries to live in, Switzerland has four national languages and is known for a variety of Alemmanic dialects called "Swiss German" that are widely spoken in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Earlier this year a Swiss reporter for German-language Swiss public television, SRF, interviewed Jean-Stphane Bron, a Swiss film director from French-speaking Lausanne, about his latest documentary. As in Belgium, the distinction between the vowels. The French speaking region of Switzerland is called Romandy in English and la Romandie or, more commonly, la Suisse romande in French. This guide to slang will take your French learning to the next level. The French use quelle heure est-il? to ask what time it is, but the Swiss literally ask, At what time are we living?. French slang. ), Tch bonne: Have a good day /evening (bonne journe /soire), Lolette: a pacifier for babies (ttine in France). Since the dialogue is limited, its great for someone who wants to transition to watching films in spoken French without subtitles. There are tiny differences here and there, however. Watch recent French-speaking movies and TV shows to learn new slang, and the slang words and phrases youve just learned in this article. Tas la gratte ou bien ? Here's a comprehensive guide on the languages of Switzerland. Also related to sports, gagner une channe means to win a trophy. 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. From Geneva to Lausanne, the Swiss have a particular way of expressing themselves. All Your Questions About French, Answered! Avoir la gratte is a typically Swiss expression that has a special meaning for hikers in wool sweaters on those winter evenings. Yes, you read that right. This expression can sometimes be found in France, in places close to Switzerland. Because French has spread across five continents, it has evolved in many surprising and exciting ways. Youll be able to express your feelings better. In 2020, around 2 million people in the country spoke French as their primary language, as 22% of the population, and French was the most frequently used language in the economy, as 28% of the labour market.[1]. With such a high quality of living standards, it comes to a surprise that many Swiss still share a laundry machine among several apartments Switzerland has not one but four official languages: German, French, Italian, Romansh. Sure, its useful to know the basics like the French alphabet or how to say hello in French. Its a great place to find the latest news headlines in Swiss French. The site featuresshort video clips as well as news articles, and you shouldnt be surprised to see that the Swiss are quite attentive to world news. Now hes drunk!), *apricot brandy from the canton of Valais. There is one noticeable difference - Swiss-French speakers tend to talk slower than their counterparts in France, giving a more relaxed tonality. "J'ai un petit creux," doesn't mean you are so hungry you could eat a horse. Its remarkable that the Swiss can keep their trains so punctual when you consider the amount of time they spend delivering announcements in all the languages spoken in Switzerland and also English. A short way of saying Youre welcome!. Then Check Out: Red Light District Tips! Another difference is how the French speakers in Switzerland call their meals. Tenir les pouces: universal sign of good luck. Faire la pice droite (lit. (Hey, Henri! Numbers: In Switzerland, you can use septante, huitante and nonante for 70, 80 and 90, respectively - compared to soixante-dix, quatre-vingts and quatre-vingt-dix in France. Watch this French video! Likewise, if you plan on taking a train ride through Switzerland and are relying on the announcements being made in English you will need the patience level of a Trappist monk, as all announcements will be made in German and French first, then possibly Italian, and last but not least, English. LABC de largot (the ABCs of French slang!). If youre looking for more context about Switzerland and Swiss French, pick up this book. This common, catch-all expression is used in the sense of, What happens to people who spend all day cleaning the house from top to bottom with a, You might be able to easily guess the meaning of this typically Swiss expression. But what it actually means there is no rush, no urgency. pronounce certain vowels very differently than, (this is an easy one: pot!) in their native language, and companies will ensure to advertise their products in as many languages as possible too, to ensure no consumer feels left out. Bte comme ses pieds 15. Episodes are available to stream on the Radio Television Suisse (RTS) website. 2023 Enux Education Limited. Here are some common examples youll encounter in Switzerland, with standard French listed first, followed by the Swiss French equivalent and then an English translation: galement, vous de meme or vous aussi pariellement (same to you; you too), serviette linge (towel; note thatlinge in standard French means laundry), lyce collge (high school; note that collge in standard French means middle school). (Im not going any farther, after that I cant reach the bottom!). Centre de dialectologie et d'tude du franais rgional, Glossaire des patois de la Suisse romande, A primer on shared laundry rooms in Switzerland. Switzerland nicknames/petnames/slang for the country itself i'm specifically looking for something for beautiful Switzerland! While there are some distinctions in vocabulary and expressions, Swiss French wont prove too much trouble for anyone skilled in speaking Standard French. 12. We have compiled a list of 275 of the best colloquial and informal words and phrases so you can get ready for your next trip to France, Canada or any other French-speaking country or your next Zoom meeting with your amis francophones! The fact that its speakers tend to hail from the more remote, mountainous parts of southeastern Switzerland explains in part why this language has survived into the 21st Century, in spite of the significant encroachment of Italian and German into traditional Romansh-speaking areas. Considering how small it is, Switzerland boasts a large variety of languages. are pronounced the same way in France. Unsurprisingly, with only 37,000 speakers, this language is often overlooked by international travelers to Switzerland. In total, French speakers account for approximately 20 percent of the Swiss population, and if youre thinking of traveling to cities such as Geneva or Lausanne then bring your French Babbel lessons with you, as these popular destinations for international tourism are entirely French-speaking. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); - Centre de dialectologie et d'tude du franais rgional (Universit de Neuchtel) (Chug! Other famous Swiss people include Jean-Luc Godard, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Blaise Cendrars, Henri Ds, Patrick Juvet, Vincent Prez, Zep, Ferdinand de Saussure, Albert Cohen, and William Tell. But still, practice your math, okay? However, this usage varies within Suisse Romande. Though not his strongest,it provides an intriguing commentary on the dynamic between Switzerland and France at the time. Le cheval ragit instantanment lorsqu'il entendit le sifflement du fouet. In fact, the differences that do exist are often quite pleasant for foreigners to come across. Blaireau 5. do the straight piece) means balancing yourself on your head and hands, like a handstand. Each of Switzerlands main languages German, French and Italian are shared with a larger and more influential neighbour. The Swiss are taught Standard German (Hochdeutsch) from a very early age in school, and as a result, they can communicate with Germans, Austrians and other German speakers without any trouble effortlessly making the switch to standard German almost automatically when engaging in conversation with a non-Swiss German speaker. See more common examples at the bottom of this, which includes cute illustrations of common Swiss phrases like. If you feel confident reading in French, take a look at a few of the authors articles about the different variations of Swiss French. Check out her albums Mondays Ghost and 1983, which both made the top charts in Switzerland. Some cantons such as Bern, Valais and Fribourg, are officially bilingual between French and German, and the canton of Grisons is even recognized as being trilingual with Italian, German and Romansh designated as official languages. Five Swiss German phrases to make you sound like a local, Reader tips: How to reduce your climate impact as an international resident, Foreigners in Sweden share their stories of family reunions after pandemic separation. Balle. French is spoken in the western part of the country, which is, you guessed it, the area that borders France. but ideally based on the word 'Switzerland/Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera/Svizra'. Germanism, from "Aktion" ("promotional campaign"). Zucchinis were already mentioned. "Duvet" comes from the fact that comforters used to be filled with down feather (duvet). (I kindly asked him to clean up his mess, and now hes pouting!). Many French people are familiar with this Swiss number system, so if youre having a brain fart, its absolutely okay to default to this method sometimes. (Quel) imbecile. . FluentU brings French to life with real-world videos. Merci Vilmal (Thanks a lot) 3. If youre looking for news on a particular subject, use the handy search bar! 5. Not consenting or withdrawing consent may adversely affect certain features and functions. Mama Rosin is an emerging band that comes from Geneva, Switzerland. What are some other typical Swiss-French words and phrases? And the phrase frequently arises in debates around the ethics of technology: some say, for example, that self-driving cars will ultimately save lives, even if there are a few crashes before the AI behind them is perfected. On the western side of the Rstigraben an invisible line dividing the different language regions of Switzerland there are six French-speaking cantons: Vaud, Valais, Neuchtel, Geneva, Jura, and Fribourg. Keep on the lookout for Anglicisms as well. piss off. Lets say you get the chance to be a participant on a show like Game of Switzerland (which sees four pairs complete a scavenger hunt through Switzerland in three days for the main prize of 30,000 Swiss francs) on the same night as your best friends birthday bash which youve been planning for weeks. Actually, what differentiates the Swiss accent is its emphasis on penultimate syllables. 5. Example: Je ne sais pas faire la pice droite, je tombe toujours. , or Romandy, in the western part of the country. This Swiss French phrase is a synonym of coller (to stick), and it looks like pguer, which is the phrase often used in southern France. Un mail - email. Well, that difference still exists between France and Switzerland. events & special offers, 2023 Coucou French Classes. Yes, a real dummy!). | Sometimes he even dreams of giving up everything to raise Siberian bears. Babbel has got you covered when it comes to French, Germanand Italian, all of which will serve you well on your Swiss odyssey! Example: Quest-ce que tas fait ta jaquette ? A Swiss can understand and be understood 100% by a French. QQ as in " quelqu'un " or "somebody". 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! If its two in the afternoon, youve probably already had dner. Did you know that around two million people in Switzerland are French speakers? If a Swiss person asks you this, theyre probably pretty cheerful. Learning French becomes fun and easy when you learn with movie trailers, music videos, news and inspiring talks. Category: Culture sifflement nm. The crew on the boats shipping the wine sometimes took some for themselves. Schwiizerdtsch is almost its own language totally. People are naturally fascinated by Switzerland and this admiration isnt just a love for chocolate and mountain walks (all right, maybe a little bit). 10 Crazy Swiss German Slang Words You Need to Know 1. Largely due to its landlocked locationbordered by Germany to the north, Austria to the east, Italy to the south and France to the westSwitzerland has long been an area of dispute. For example, you can say Cest la life instead of Cest la vie. info@coucoufrenchclasses.com This Swiss French phrase will make your head spin. Perhaps to the benefit of its current long-term stability and progress, Switzerland remained neutral during this time. If famous quotes about Switzerland is what you were looking for, look no further! Faire schmolitz : Wine drinking ritual in which two people decide to befriend each other by passing from the formal vous form to the more casual tu. But dont expect to be invited to play cards. Now he's become a passionate blogger and insatiable traveler, and he's particularly fascinated by the Russian-speaking world. The phrase literally translates as to take something in the purchase. Since it contains some sarcasm and is not available with subtitles on YouTube, this film is best for more advanced French learners. After living in Western Switzerland for three years now, I wanted to share what I have learned about Swiss-French so far. Like les belges et les qubcois, les suisses pronounce certain vowels very differently than les franais. Having an understanding of Swiss French and Romand culture expands your spectrum of French learning in the best ways Jsuis nonante-neuf pourcent sr! This is by far the best thing about Swiss French, and also rather symbolic of how Swiss French differs from standard French its simpler. From German "Maturittsexamen", "Matura". Fill in the form below and well contact you to discuss your learning options and answer any questions you may have. (a va pas la tte? Meal names have shifted in the French of France, where. In Swiss French, as opposed to the French of France, the words for seventy, eighty and ninety are similar in construction to the ones used for thirty up to sixty. From schmolitz to panosse, some words and phrases common in the French-speaking part of Switzerland are different from their equivalents used in France. New York, Many French people swear that they can recognize Swiss accents, but, in fact, there is no standard Swiss-French accent. Maybe the influence of the methodical German-speaking Swiss had something to do with this? A guide to all the French revolutions you should know about! (Drink up!) Download: French-speaking Switzerland: Seven life hacks that will make you feel like a local, Panosse: A wet broom (serpillire in France). Trop cool, non ? Comes from the German word for "Mother", "Mutter". Example: Tu as encore mis le cheni dans ta chambre ! (The other three are German, Italian and Romansh.). Please note that a similar expression doesnt exist in the German-speaking cantons, and for a good reason: Swiss-Germans are rarely late. (Dir hts) is hirni grgned/gschisse *** - It rained/someone shat into your brain. In Switzerland it is used as an informal general form of greeting when people meet or leave each other. 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. Its a Swiss French expression thats also used in the Franche-Comt region of France. Now, the currency is the euro. Switzerland: the chocolate, the cheese, the cows, the mountains and the multilingualism. Switzerland is an achingly beautiful country full of mountains, lakes, historical towns and picturesque Alpine villages. I have also asked my friends for their opinions on Swiss-French in comparison to the French spoken in France. How do you think Swiss-French compares to French spoken in France? /. Weve got you covered! However, the number 80 varies; in some parts of Switzerland, French speakers say huitante and others say quatre-vingts. Suite 1A It offers a funny perspective on the notorious and stereotypically luxurious Swiss lifestyle. @coucoufrench But in Swiss French, the O vowel sound changes between the words. Want to see French speakers try (and often fail hilariously) to imitate Swiss accents? Z'Nni (Second breakfast) 2. - Le Parlomtre romand (RTS). ChuChiChaschliLand. Have questions? In fact, the Swiss have turned their multilingual identity into one of their greatest natural resources. So if Swiss German is a dialect-ridden language thats incredibly difficult to understand, it would be ridiculous to even attempt a conversation in German with a Swiss person right? Heureusement, the International Phonetic Alphabet can help. But dont expect to be invited to play cards. If you read French at a very high level, you can learn all about les helvtismes here! 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