Greetings

1. Grüezi

   Hello

   Usage

   The basic Swiss German greeting for strangers, shop staff and older people; works at any time of day

   Grammar Note

   A fixed one-word greeting; with friends use Hoi or Sali

2. Hoi

   Hi

   Usage

   A casual hello among friends and people your age; also used when passing someone

   Grammar Note

   One word; for a group say Hoi zäme

3. Sali

   Hi

   Usage

   A casual hello for friends and colleagues, used much like Hoi

   Grammar Note

   A one-word greeting; in polite situations use Grüezi

4. Hoi zäme

   Hi everyone

   Usage

   A casual way to greet a group of friends or colleagues at once

   Grammar Note

   composed: Hoi (hi) + zäme (together); zäme here addresses everybody

5. Merci villmal

   Thank you very much

   Usage

   The everyday way to say thank you very much; Merci is borrowed from French

   Grammar Note

   composed: villmal = vill (much) + mal (times), written as one word

6. Merci

   Thanks

   Usage

   A short thank-you for shops and friends alike; borrowed from French

   Grammar Note

   A one-word thank-you; Danke is also common

7. Bitte

   Please / Here you are

   Usage

   Used when asking for something or handing something over; also an answer to thanks

   Grammar Note

   A one-word politeness marker; add it to the end of a request

8. Gärn gscheh

   You're welcome

   Usage

   The reply when someone thanks you; also a light 'no problem'

   Grammar Note

   A set phrase meaning roughly 'gladly happened'

9. Exgüsi

   Excuse me

   Usage

   French-derived word for getting attention, passing someone or a light apology

   Grammar Note

   A one-word interjection; less stiff than the Standard German word but still polite

10. Es tuet mir leid

    I'm sorry

    Usage

    Used to apologise for a mistake or to express sympathy

    Grammar Note

    composed: tuet is the 3rd person singular of the verb meaning to do; literally 'it does me sorrow'

11. Guete Morge

    Good morning

    Usage

    A morning greeting that works with shop staff and friends

    Grammar Note

    composed: Guete is an inflected form of guet; Guete Abig and Gueti Nacht follow the same pattern

12. Guete Abig

    Good evening

    Usage

    A greeting for the evening

    Grammar Note

    composed: Abig is the dialect word for the evening

13. Gueti Nacht

    Good night

    Usage

    Said when going to bed or parting late at night

    Grammar Note

    composed: Nacht is feminine, so the adjective takes the form Gueti

14. Uf Widerluege

    Goodbye

    Usage

    A polite goodbye when leaving a shop, hotel or meeting

    Grammar Note

    A set phrase meaning roughly 'until we look again'; casually use Ade or Tschau

15. Ade

    Bye

    Usage

    A casual goodbye to friends and people you know

    Grammar Note

    A one-word goodbye; in polite settings use Uf Widerluege

16. Tschau

    Bye

    Usage

    A casual goodbye among friends; it comes from Italian ciao

    Grammar Note

    A one-word goodbye

17. Bis spöter

    See you later

    Usage

    A goodbye when you will meet again later the same day

    Grammar Note

    composed: Bis (until) + spöter (later)

18. Wie gaats Ihne?

    How are you?

    Usage

    A polite way to ask how a stranger or older person is doing

    Grammar Note

    composed: gaats is gaat + s fused; Ihne is the dative of the polite Sie

19. Wie gaats dir?

    How are you?

    Usage

    A casual question to a friend or family member about how they are

    Grammar Note

    composed: dir is the dative of du; for a polite address use Wie gaats Ihne?

20. Willkomme i de Schwiiz!

    Welcome to Switzerland!

    Usage

    A welcome for visitors arriving in the country

    Grammar Note

    composed: after this preposition the feminine noun Schwiiz takes the article de

21. Gueti Reis!

    Have a good trip!

    Usage

    Said to someone who is about to travel

    Grammar Note

    composed: Reis is feminine, so the adjective is Gueti

22. En Guete!

    Enjoy your meal!

    Usage

    A set phrase said before a meal by the people eating or serving

    Grammar Note

    A fixed phrase; learn it as a whole

23. Ich bi wider da

    I'm back

    Usage

    Said when you return after being away

    Grammar Note

    composed: bi is the 1st person singular of the verb to be

24. Ich chum wider

    I'll come again

    Usage

    Said when you want to visit a place or shop again

    Grammar Note

    composed: the present tense expresses the future; chum is the 1st person singular of cho (to come)

25. Es isch schön gsi

    It was lovely

    Usage

    Said after a visit, trip or meal to say you enjoyed it

    Grammar Note

    composed: the past is made with the perfect; isch + gsi means was

26. Ich muess jetz leider gaa

    I'm afraid I have to go now

    Usage

    A polite way to leave a conversation or gathering

    Grammar Note

    composed: modal verb with the infinitive at the end

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