Slang

1. Hoi zäme

   Hi everyone

   Usage

   A casual hello to friends or a group of peers; with staff or older strangers use Grüezi

   Grammar Note

   Hoi is the most common casual greeting; adding zäme addresses a whole group

2. Tschau

   Bye

   Usage

   A casual goodbye for friends and peers; with someone older use Uf Widerluege

   Grammar Note

   A loan from Italian ciao; both Tschau and Ciao are written

3. Das isch mega guet

   That's really good

   Usage

   Casual youth emphasis; mega goes in front of the adjective

   Grammar Note

   composed: mega plus an adjective means really

4. Das isch voll cool

   That's totally cool

   Usage

   For friends your own age; voll adds emphasis

   Grammar Note

   composed: voll plus an adjective is a casual intensifier

5. Das isch lässig

   That's great

   Usage

   A relaxed way to say something is nice; never negative

   Grammar Note

   composed: in Swiss usage lässig means cool or nice

6. Nöd schlächt

   Not bad

   Usage

   An understated compliment

   Grammar Note

   composed: nöd plus an adjective; nöd is the negation

7. Wahnsinn

   Wow, incredible

   Usage

   An exclamation of amazement; positive or negative depending on tone

   Grammar Note

   composed: a noun used on its own as an exclamation

8. Kei Stress

   No stress

   Usage

   A relaxed way to say take your time, it is fine; works with staff and friends

   Grammar Note

   composed: kei negates a noun

9. Easy

   Usage

   A loan from English meaning simple or relaxed; common among young people

   Grammar Note

   composed: English easy used as is

10. Das passt

    That works for me

    Usage

    A short reply for agreeing to a suggestion or a time

    Grammar Note

    composed: passt is the third-person singular of passen

11. Stimmt

    Right

    Usage

    A short reply that agrees with what was said

    Grammar Note

    composed: stimmt is the third-person singular of stimme, used on its own

12. Das isch mir egal

    I don't mind

    Usage

    Leaves the choice to the other person; it can sound cold, so use it with people you know

    Grammar Note

    composed: the pattern isch mir egal; egal is the same word as in Standard German

13. Ich ha de Plausch gha

    I had a great time

    Usage

    Plausch is a Swiss word for fun; say it after a party or a get-together

    Grammar Note

    composed: the past is formed with the perfect; ha ... gha means had

14. Ich ha kei Luscht

    I don't feel like it

    Usage

    A casual way to turn down an invitation; avoid it at work or with seniors

    Grammar Note

    composed: negation of Luscht ha, to feel like something

15. Ich ha Luscht uf es Bier

    I fancy a beer

    Usage

    A casual way to suggest drinks to a friend

    Grammar Note

    composed: Luscht ha uf plus a noun means to fancy something

16. Das choschtet 20 Stutz

    That costs 20 francs

    Usage

    Stutz is casual slang for Swiss francs; heard between friends and at markets. Use Franke in formal settings

    Grammar Note

    composed: digits only for prices; Stutz keeps the same form in the plural

17. En schöne Fiirabig

    Have a nice evening after work

    Usage

    Fiirabig is the free time after work; said when parting, like have a good evening

    Grammar Note

    composed: wishes drop the verb and use article, adjective and noun

18. Das isch en Kolleg vo mir

    He is a friend of mine

    Usage

    In Switzerland Kolleg is an everyday word for a friend or mate

    Grammar Note

    composed: possession is expressed with vo mir; the genitive is not used

19. Hopp Schwiiz

    Go Switzerland!

    Usage

    A cheer at sports matches; Hopp is followed by a team or country name

    Grammar Note

    composed: Hopp plus a name is the usual cheer; Schwiiz is written with ii

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