Culture & Etiquette

1. Schwiizerdütsch

   Swiss German

   Usage

   The collective name for the dialects spoken in German-speaking Switzerland. They differ from region to region, while the written language is Standard German; Swiss people normally speak dialect among themselves

   Grammar Note

   Compound of Schwiiz (Switzerland) and dütsch (German)

2. Hochdütsch

   Standard German

   Usage

   The Standard German used in schools, newspapers, news and signs. Swiss people will often switch to it when speaking to visitors

   Grammar Note

   Compound of hoch (high) and dütsch (German), the dialect name for it

3. Chuchichäschtli

   Kitchen cupboard (a famous tongue-twister)

   Usage

   It means a small kitchen cupboard. With its many ch sounds, it is the well-known word for testing a visitor's Swiss German pronunciation

   Grammar Note

   Compound of Chuchi (kitchen), Chaschte (cupboard) and the diminutive -li

4. Jodeln

   Yodelling

   Usage

   A traditional Alpine singing style that switches quickly between chest voice and falsetto, heard at village festivals and music events

   Grammar Note

   The verb jodeln (to yodel) used as a noun

5. Alphorn

   Usage

   A long wooden horn, sometimes so long that its end rests on the ground, played at mountain festivals and tourist places

   Grammar Note

   Compound of Alp (alp) and Horn

6. Schwingen

   Schwingen (Swiss wrestling)

   Usage

   A traditional sport in a sawdust ring where two wrestlers grip each other's shorts and try to put the opponent on his back; the champion is called the Schwingerkönig

   Grammar Note

   The verb schwingen (to swing) used as a noun

7. Hornussen

   Hornussen (Swiss traditional sport)

   Usage

   A sport in which a small puck is struck with a flexible rod and the other team tries to catch it with wooden boards; popular in rural areas such as the canton of Bern

   Grammar Note

   The proper name of the sport

8. Steinstossen

   Steinstossen (stone put)

   Usage

   A strength contest of throwing a heavy stone forward from shoulder height; the stone made famous at the Unspunnen Festival in Interlaken weighs about 83 kg

   Grammar Note

   Compound of Stein (stone) and stossen (to push, to put)

9. Fahnenschwingen

   Flag throwing

   Usage

   A traditional art of swinging a large flag around the body and over the head and throwing it high to catch it, seen at festivals and wrestling events

   Grammar Note

   Compound of Fahne (flag) and schwingen (to swing)

10. Ländlermusik

    Ländler music (folk dance music)

    Usage

    Folk dance music played on a small accordion, clarinet and double bass, heard in village inns and at festivals

    Grammar Note

    Compound of Ländler (a dance) and Musik (music)

11. Kuhreihen

    Kuhreihen (herdsmen's call)

    Usage

    A simple song that Alpine herdsmen sing to call cattle home, sometimes counted among the sources of yodelling

    Grammar Note

    Compound of Kuh (cow) and Reihen (round song, dance)

12. Tracht

    Traditional costume

    Usage

    The traditional costume, which varies in pattern and shape from canton to canton, worn at festivals, events and folk concerts

    Grammar Note

    A noun; in Switzerland it means the regional folk costume

13. Wilhelm Tell

    William Tell

    Usage

    The legendary crossbowman from the Swiss founding tale, known for shooting an apple from his son's head, with statues and plays around the country

    Grammar Note

    A personal name; Wilhelm is the German form of William

14. Heidi

    Usage

    The heroine of Johanna Spyri's story of a mountain girl; around Maienfeld in Graubünden, where it is set, there is a Heidi village

    Grammar Note

    A personal name, a pet form of Adelheid

15. Röstigraben

    Röstigraben (the German–French divide)

    Usage

    A joking term for the difference in language and outlook between German- and French-speaking Switzerland, often mentioned when popular vote results are discussed

    Grammar Note

    Compound of Rösti (potato dish) and Graben (ditch), used jokingly

16. Generalabonnement

    General Abonnement (national travel pass)

    Usage

    A season pass for unlimited travel on most Swiss trains, buses and boats, commonly called the GA; visitors can use the Swiss Travel Pass instead

    Grammar Note

    Compound of general and Abonnement (season pass), shortened to GA

17. Halbtax

    Halbtax (half-fare card)

    Usage

    A card that cuts the price of train and bus tickets by about half, bought by people staying a long time; visitors may find the Swiss Travel Pass simpler

    Grammar Note

    Compound of halb (half) and Tax (fare)

18. Swiss Travel Pass

    Usage

    A visitor's pass giving unlimited travel on trains, buses and boats for a fixed number of days, with free entry to many museums

    Grammar Note

    The English name is used unchanged

19. SwissPass

    SwissPass (travel card)

    Usage

    The card that holds season passes and half-fare data for Swiss public transport, shown during ticket checks

    Grammar Note

    An English name made of Swiss and Pass written as one word

20. ZVV

    Zurich Transport Network

    Usage

    The fare network covering trains, trams, buses and boats in the canton of Zürich, so one ticket works on all of them

    Grammar Note

    ZVV stands for Zürcher Verkehrsverbund

21. SBB

    Swiss Federal Railways

    Usage

    The Swiss national railway, seen on station signs, tickets and in the app, where you can look up timetables

    Grammar Note

    SBB stands for Schweizerische Bundesbahnen

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