Swiss-German Genealogical Word List
Introduction[edit | edit source]
General Word List[edit | edit source]
This general word list includes words commonly seen in genealogical sources.
The following list first shows the Swiss word followed by the English word.
| Swiss-German | English |
|---|---|
| Abend, Abig | evening |
| achtzehnhundert | 1800 |
| Abgestorben | Died |
| Allerheiligen | All Saint’s Day, Nov. 1 |
| am | on the |
| am ersten Tag | on the first day |
| am letzten Tag | on the last day |
| am Morge | in the morning |
| angeblich | presumed |
| Anno (Latin) | year |
| ab | of, from |
| ap | of, from |
| Aprell, Aprellen, April | April |
| Barbel | Barbara |
| Bärn | Bern |
| Bärnbiet | area of canton Bern |
| beerdigt | buried |
| begraben | buried |
| Bernbiet | area, canton Bern |
| Bünderland, Bünten | Area, Canton Graubünden |
| Bevölkerung | population |
| Bevölkerungsverzeichnis | census |
| bin | am |
| Brachet, Brachmonat, Brachmonet | June |
| Bruder, Bruoder | Brother |
| Bundesstaat | federal state |
| Bub, Buob | Boy |
| Bur | farmer, peasant |
| Burger, Bürger | citizen |
| Bürgermeister | mayor |
| Chile | church |
| Chilebuoch | church book, parish register |
| Chilich | church |
| Chind | boy |
| Chinder | children |
| Chirurg | surgeon |
| chil, chlin, chlini | little |
| Chnab | boy, servant |
| Chrankheit | illness |
| Christmonat | December |
| Clewi, Clewy, Clöwy | Nicolaus |
| Chreis | district, county |
| Christliche Gmeind | parish, Christian community |
| de | the |
| dem | the, to the |
| der | the, of the |
| des | of, of the |
| Deutsch | German |
| die | the |
| Dochter | daughter |
| Donschtig, Donstag, Donstig | Thursday |
| Dorf | village |
| e, a, | an |
| ebenda | at the same place |
| e chlis Meitli | a little girl |
| e chlis Meitli gtoufft | a little girl was baptized |
| Ee | marriage |
| Eelüt | married couple |
| Ehe | marriage |
| Ehefrau | wife |
| Ehemann | husband |
| ehelich | legitimate |
| ehelich gsegnet | legitimately married |
| Ein Kind getouff(e)t | a child baptized |
| Einwilligung | permission |
| Einwohner | inhabitant |
| eiusdem, ejusdem (Latin) | the same |
| Elsass | Alsace |
| Elsbeth | variation of Elisabeth |
| Elteren, Eltern | parents |
| en | a, an |
| en chlin(e) Buob gtoufft | a little boy was baptized |
| eus | us |
| Fasnacht | Mardi Gras |
| Fater, Fatter | father |
| Feber, Februar | February |
| Feiertag | holiday |
| französisch | French |
| Frankreich, Frankrych | France |
| Freni | Verena, girl’s name |
| Fritag, Fritig, Frytig | Friday |
| Frömde | foreigners |
| Frühling | Spring |
| Gänf, Genf | Geneva |
| genannt | named, called |
| getauft, gtouff(e)t | baptized |
| Gfatter | godparents |
| gheiss(e)t | Called, named |
| ghörend | belonging to |
| ghüratet | married |
| Gote, Gotte, | godmother |
| Göti, Götti | godfather |
| Geschwüster, Geschwüsterti | siblings |
| gsait | said |
| gsi, gsin | been, has been, were |
| gtoufft | baptized |
| Gvatter | godparents |
| Hans | diminutive form of Johannes |
| Hansli | form of Hans |
| Heiri | variation of Heinrich |
| heist, heysst | called, named |
| Hochzit, Hochzyt, Hochzyg | marriage |
| hürate(n) | to marry |
| Hus | house, home |
| Husfrau | wife |
| hüt | today |
| ins Jenseits brerufen worden | called to the other side, died |
| isch | is, was, has |
| Jagli, Jägli, Jogli | form of Jacob |
| Jänner | January |
| Jar | year |
| Kilche | church |
| Kilchenbuoch | church book parish register |
| Landsass / Landsässin | Official resident, lacking full citizenship |
| lediges Kind | Illegitimate child |
| Maitschi | girl |
| Mäntig, Mäntag | Monday |
| Meitli, Meitschi | girl |
| mer | we |
| mer gönd | we are going |
| mer händ | we have |
| Messmer | sexton, sacristan |
| Mett | middle |
| Mutter, Muotter | mother |
| nempt | named |
| Oschter, Oster | Easter |
| Oschermäntig | Easter Monday |
| Oschtersuntig | Easter Sunday |
| Östrych | Austria |
| Pur | farmer |
| sächs | six |
| Samschtig | Saturday |
| Sangalla | St. Gallen |
| Schorschli | George |
| Schryber | scribe |
| Schuol | school |
| sin | his |
| Stina | Christina |
| Sun | son |
| Sunntig, Sunntag | Sunday |
| syn | his |
| Thochter | daughter |
| Töchterli | Daughter |
| Torf | village |
| Trina, Trini | Christina |
| Tütsch | German |
| uff | on, at, upon |
| uff d’ Wält cho | Came into the world, born |
| Ule, Uli | Ulrich |
| undt | and |
| Unkel, Unklen | uncle |
| Uoroch, Urech, Urich | Ulrich |
| unn | and |
| us | out, from (German 'aus') |
| Vrene, Vreni | Verena |
| Weyb | wife |
| Wittfrouw | widow |
| Wolfmonat | December |
| Wuche | week |
| Wyb, Wyp | wife |
| ygsegnet | consecrated, married |
| zäh | ten |
| zähn | ten |
| zfrüe | too early |
| Ziestag, Ziestig, Zinstag | Tuesday |
| Zmittag | noon |
| Zmorge | In the morning, breakfast |
| Zügen | witnesses |
| zu, zuo | to, at |
| zvieri | at four |
| zweh | two |
| Zwo | two |
| Zyt | time |
| 7bris | September |
| 8bris | October |
| 9bris | November |
| 10bris, Xbris | December |