swiss french slang
This Swiss French phrase is one you have to know. Swiss French still uses the generic uncountable word le linge to define laundry, but the countable word un/le/les linge-s (which has no meaning in the French of France) means une/la/les serviette-s. : Are you crazy? Here is a few reasons why: French pronunciation can be challenging, and even more so with street language or colloquialisms. And check out this TV5Monde page which includes cute illustrations of common Swiss phrases like donner un coup de panosse (mop the floor). For example, some German terms in regions bordering German-speaking communities are completely unused in the area around Geneva, a city by France's border with Switzerland. quelle heure vit-on? In Switzerland, multilingualism is the daily norm. Its been a while! But rather than saying good pear, the Swiss say good apple (bonne pomme). 5. Within the Italian language, vocabulary, expressions and sometimes even grammatical constructions change from one dialect to the next. Swiss French is really not terribly different from French (Standard). a joue! This expression can sometimes be found in France, in places close to Switzerland. Joseph Gorgoni is a very popular Swiss comedian whose alter-ego, Marie Thrse Porchet, gives lessons about Switzerland in French. 4. are pronounced the same way in France. Re: swiss french words!!! In this multicultural and multilingual country with four official languages (French, German, Italian and Romansh), the Swiss French phrases also known as Helvetisms can certainly throw off the French speakers on the other side of the border. However, the number 80 varies; in some parts of Switzerland, French speakers say, You know how in the old days some people used to say , instead of dinner? It might be helpful or save you from an embarrassing moment or two (or dozens, in my case!) The crew on the boats shipping the wine sometimes took some for themselves. In this multicultural and multilingual country with four official languages (French, If a Swiss person asks you this, theyre probably pretty cheerful. (What a day, I cant do any more! It entered the French language and then came into English. Youll be able to express your feelings better. You can also say. This is howAndres Kristol, director of the University of Neuchatels Center for the Study of Dialects and Regional French, characterizesthe difference between Swiss French and standard French. Switzerland is a curious country with four national languages, one of them being Swiss-German ( Schwiizerdtsch ), which is considerably different from High German (or Hochdeutsch ). N'importe quoi 11. This post will give you some background, essential vocabulary and lots of listening and reading resources so you can yodel out perfect Swiss French like a native. Common Swiss Expressions One of the most famous Swiss-French words is natel, which means cellphone. This is by far the best thing about Swiss French, and also rather symbolic of how Swiss French differs from standard French its simpler. Each of Switzerlands main languages German, French and Italian are shared with a larger and more influential neighbour. Youll learn that French spoken in the Jura region is quite different from that spoken in Geneva. Known for their hard rock and contemporary rock, they were touring the world through 2012 with their album Firebirth. Though you wont find any Belgian speakers, Belgium is home to a diverse bunch of national languages. And when they got off the boat in Soleure, they werent quite the same! 90027, Contact: The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The Local recently asked its readers what are the most important Swiss-French words to know. Watch her speak French in an interview here. Youll be able to get the Swiss perspective on European and international issues. Swiss German or Schwyzerdtsch as its called by locals, is a collection of Alemannic dialects no longer spoken in Germany or Austria. Example: Pourquoi tu frtilles comme a ? More than anything it is an accent with a bit of vocab. Swiss-French is also identical to Standard one. Did you know that around two million people in Switzerland are French speakers? Blaireau 5. Swiss German is a group of varied German dialects, spoken from behind the Rostigraben in Switzerland. This French insult is used to say that somebody's IQ is in the range of 50-70. But in Swiss French, the O vowel sound changes between the words. (The other three are German, Italian and Romansh.) The horse reacted instantly to the swish of the whip. One of the most famous Swiss-French words is natel, which means cellphone. Avale mes couilles. This doesnt mean the bus is transporting horses; it does mean it is not in service. Va te faire voir 16. You won't forget this slang term it contains the English word 'boss' which will help you call the word to mind. You can also say bobet. But in Swiss French, the O vowel sound changes between the words. Abeleere! Example: Je suis fier de toi, mon fils, tu as encore gagn une channe ! Discover more French vocabulary articles on our learning French blog. Example: Je ne vais pas plus loin, aprs je nai plus fond ! Not even eight oclock and hes already drunk!). Jobs Actually, what differentiates the Swiss accent is its emphasis on penultimate syllables. Example: Quest-ce que tas fait ta jaquette ? Swiss French has its own accent, vocabulary and expressions, which differ from French spoken in neighboring France. Although a standard form of French is taught in schools and used in the government, the media and business, there is no uniform vernacular form of French among the different cantons of Switzerland. Unsurprisingly, with only 37,000 speakers, this language is often overlooked by international travelers to Switzerland. Definition of 'Swiss-French' Swiss-French in British English (swsfrnt ) adjective 1. of or relating to a person from French-speaking Switzerland 2. of or relating to the variety of French spoken in Switzerland noun 3. the variety of French spoken in Switzerland plural noun 4. Germanism, from "Aktion" ("promotional campaign"). Moreover, as there is no universal written form of the various Swiss German dialects, all laws, books, newspapers and other forms of written communication are written in Standard German. Add in regional differences, such as Qubcois or Swiss-French, and it's even trickier. If youre a fan of architecture, youre probably familiar with one of Frances most famous architects: . French is one of Switzerland's four national languages. Youll be late for practice again!). Le cheval ragit instantanment lorsqu'il entendit le sifflement du fouet. (Put on your shorts, quickly! How Is Swiss French Different from Standard French? Of these cantons, three are bilingual in French and German: Bern, Fribourg and Valais. Literally! In fact, the differences that do exist are often quite pleasant for foreigners to come across. canon - beautiful. There is some quirky vocab and it is spoken slower with lots of vowel differences, but it is pretty similar to Standard French. For instance, the Swiss call a jacket une jaquette, whereas the French call it une veste. Download our free guide to French slang! Learning French becomes fun and easy when you learn with movie trailers, music videos, news and inspiring talks. Swiss German Slang- ChuchichaschliLand; Close; Global Slang. /coucoufrenchclasses Check our FAQs page or: Alternatively you can send us an email at info@coucoufrenchclasses.com or use the form below, I have a question aboutGeneral InquiryNYC classesLA classesOnline classesPrivate lessonsWorkshopsCorporate classesOther, in French. You can also search for tandem/language exchange programs in your area. See the Swiss-French Collins English Dictionary. How do you think Swiss-French compares to French spoken in France? Not sure what to watch during this confinement? An avid runner and Swiss food blogger, she enjoys exploring Switzerland with her family. - Glossaire des patois de la Suisse romande (Universit de Neuchtel) In the western part of the country, its French that prevails. Originally from Zurich, she sings in four different languages, producing catchy tunes that meld folk, rock and jazz sounds. events & special offers, 2023 Coucou French Classes. READ MORE: Just so fun to say: Are these the best Swiss-German words to learn? This is an old one from Latin that meant that somebody didn't have a supporting stick. In the countrys central and eastern regions, youll find German and Romanche speakers. With regular lessons and study, youll integrate new slang words and phrases and reach a French level qui dchire! 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. Yes, a real dummy!). pronounce certain vowels very differently than, (this is an easy one: pot!) While there are some distinctions in vocabulary and expressions, Swiss French wont prove too much trouble for anyone skilled in speaking Standard French. Tenir les pouces: universal sign of good luck. Also, in terms of the accent, another Swiss friend wrote that "[the] French find the Swiss-French accent very strong and not very sexy!". And heres the really confusing part: the French call lunch le djeuner and breakfast le petit djeuner, whereas the Swiss call lunch le dner and breakfast le djeuner! Abruti. swish n. (movement with hissing sound) (bruit aigu) sifflement nm. And if you make a faux pas, youre in for a good laugh. Example: Jai trop march, jai une gonfle au pied maintenant ! In Switzerland they say someone a son fond (has their bottom) when they reach the bottom of a pool or lake with their feet. can take anywhere. However, this usage varies within Suisse Romande. Switzerland is an achingly beautiful country full of mountains, lakes, historical towns and picturesque Alpine villages. The true translation of the word balle in French is bullet. This Swiss French phrase will make your head spin. 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. You know how in the old days some people used to say supper instead of dinner? Etre du en bien: Be pleasantly surprised (tre agrablement surpris in France), a va, le chalet? Whether youre living there, planning a trip or just fascinated by the language of the Romandy region, youll need to know some of the key elements that make Swiss French what it is. The people who live in this region are therefore called, . Tu es rest croch ? Add in regional differences, such as Qubcois or Swiss-French, and its even trickier. /. Comes from the German verb "putzen" which means "to clean". Mail in French is rather confusing because it actually is slang for un email, not postal mail. For English speakers, an apt comparison could be the English of Boston versus the slower drawl in Georgia. As any student whos studying French knows, mastering the unique (and utterly annoying) French number system can be a challenge. Auj - Today. The pronunciation is very different and a lot of words are borrowed from French, for example a bicycle is a 'Velo' more commonly than a 'Rad'. The latter is commonly found in food, the former usually isnt. From the answers we received, several respondents mentioned the numbers. 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. Theres a lot of social/relational conflict in this film, so its better for confident French learners. In south-eastern Switzerland (famous for its, ), youll find Italian speakers. Today tre sur Soleure means to be drunk. On va se peler si on n'allume pas le chauffage. Originally from Minnesota, Heddi is based in the Suisse Romande. I recently polled a handful of my Swiss and French friends about vocabulary and expressions unique to Suisse Romande. Again, this is a great resource for more advanced learners to hone their ears. (You made a mess in your room again!), No, this isnt a culinary specialty. While sant sounds like cheers in standard French, this is not exactly something you wish to an abricotine drinker before taking a sip. Frances occupation of Switzerland began at the tail end of the 18th century, throughout the French revolution and civil war by troops under Napoleon. For example, the Swiss use different names for some numbers; instead of the standard French soixante-dix (70), quatre-vingts (80), and quatre-vingt-dix (90), in Switzerland they become septante, huitante, and nonante. Main languages German, French and Italian are shared with a bit of vocab an easy:. This expression can sometimes be found in food, the O vowel sound changes between words! Longer spoken in Germany or Austria again, this language is often by..., producing catchy tunes that meld folk, rock and contemporary rock they! Country full of mountains, lakes, historical towns and picturesque Alpine.... France ), youll integrate new slang words and phrases and reach a French level qui!. 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Historical towns and picturesque Alpine villages is slang for un email, not mail. Used exclusively for statistical purposes this is not in service plus loin, aprs Je nai fond. Know how in the Jura region is quite different from French ( Standard ) two ( or,. Fan of architecture, youre probably familiar with one of the most famous architects: Switzerland French... Italian language, vocabulary, expressions and sometimes even grammatical constructions change from one dialect to swish...
