Switzerland Languages: Difference between revisions

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''[[Europe]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[Switzerland Genealogy|Switzerland]]'' {{Switzerland-sidebar}}
{{CountrySidebar
|Country=Switzerland
|Name=Switzerland
|Type=Topic
|Topic Type=Background
|Background=Languages
|Rating=Standardized
}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[Switzerland Genealogy|Switzerland]]
| link2=
| link3=
| link4=
| link5=[[Switzerland Languages|Languages]]
}}
==Description==
Switzerland has four official languages: ''(Many Swiss speak more than one language)''
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Switzerland#German German]''' - 65% of the population  ''(spoken in fifteen cantons)''
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Switzerland#French French]''' - 18%  ''(spoken officially in six cantons:  Fribourg, Vaud, Jura, Valais, Neuchâtel, and Geneva)''
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Switzerland#Italian Italian]''' - 10%  ''(spoken in Ticino and parts of Graubünden)''
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Switzerland#Romansh Romansh]''' - 1%  ''(an old Latin dialect spoken mainly in the mountains of Graubünden)''
* Others - 6%


Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh.  The German speakers are 65% of the population while the French are 18%, Italian 10%, Romansh 1% and others 6%.  Many Swiss speak more than one language.  Romansh is an old Latin dialect spoken mainly in the mountains of Graubünden.  French is spoken officially in six cantons:  Fribourg, Vaud, Jura, Valais, Neuchâtel, and Geneva.  Italian is spoken in Ticino and parts of Graubünden.  German with a myriad of dialects is spoken in the other fifteen cantons: Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden (consists of half cantons of Obwalden and Nidwalden), Glarus, Zug, Solothurn, Basel (consists of half cantons of Basel-Stadt and Baselland), Schaffhausen, Appenzell (consists of half cantons of Appenzell-Innerrhoden and Appenzell-Ausserrhoden), St. Gallen, Aargau, Thurgau, and in the rest of Graubünden.  Major foreign groups are southern and Eastern Europeans. Records are written in the major languages and Latin which was used extensively in early records.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Switzerland,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1984-1998.</ref>
Records are written in the major languages and Latin which was used extensively in early records.<ref name="profile">The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Switzerland,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1984-1998. </ref> <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Switzerland," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland#Languages, accessed 8 Apr 2021.</ref> <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Switzerland," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Switzerland, accessed 8 Apr 2021.</ref>
== Swiss Genealogical Word List  ==


This is a list of commonly used words found in German Swiss church records, family registers and church census records. This list includes words found in dialect spellings. For further German words, please use the German Word List:  
==Word List(s)==
*[[German Genealogical Word List]]
*[[French Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Italian Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Swiss-German Genealogical Word List]]
*[https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/german.php Useful Phrases in German] - Omniglot]
*[https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/french.php Useful Phrases in French] - Omniglot]
*[https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/italian.php Useful Phrases in Italian] - Omniglot]
*[https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/romansh.php Useful Phrases in Romansh] - Omniglot]


*[[German Word List]]
==Alphabet and Pronunciation==
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/german.htm German Language Alphabet and Pronunciation - Omniglot]
* [https://www.omniglot.com/writing/french.htm French Language Alphabet and Pronunciation - Omniglot]
* [https://www.omniglot.com/writing/italian.htm Italian Language Alphabet and Pronunciation - Omniglot]
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/romansh.htm Romansh Language Alphabet and Pronunciation - Omniglot]


For the French speaking parts of Switzerland, see the French word list:
==Language Aids and Dictionaries==
'''Language Aids'''
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_grammar German Grammar - Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_grammar French Grammar - Wikipedia]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_grammar Italian Grammar - Wikipedia]


*[https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/French_Wordlist French Word List]
'''Dictionaries'''
* Beattie, Susie. ''Collins German dictionary.'' Glasgow: HarperCollins Publisher, 2019. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/1063656719 WorldCat].
* Girard, Denis. ''Cassell's French-English, English-French dictionary.'' Wiley, New York: Macmillan, 2002. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/798320280 WorldCat].
* Rèbora, Piero, Francis M Guercio, and Arthur Lawrence Hayward. ''Cassell's Italian dictionary : Italian-English, English-Italian.'' New York: Wiley, 2002. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/50340082 WorldCat].
* Gross, Manfred and Daniel Telli. ''Romansh-English, English-Romansh : dictionary and phrasebook.'' New York: Hippocrene Books, 2007. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/1134661872 WorldCat].


For the Italian speaking parts of Switzerland see the Italian Word List:  
'''Online Dictionaries'''
* [https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-german English-German Dictionary - Collins]
* [https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-french English-French Dictionary - Collins]
* [https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-italian English-Italian Dictionary - Collins]
* [https://en.glosbe.com/en/rm English-Romansh Dictionary - Glosbe]


*[[Italian Genealogical Word List|Italian Genealogical Word List]]
==Additional Resources==
 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Switzerland Languages of Switzerland - Wikipedia]
{| border="1" width="75%"
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_language German language - Wikipedia]
|-
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_language French language - Wikipedia]
| Abend, Abig
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_language Italian language - Wikipedia]
| evening
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romansh_language Romansh language - Wikipedia]
|-
* [https://www.thelocal.ch/20170302/18-interesting-facts-about-switzerlands-fourth-language-romansh/ 18 interesting facts about Switzerland’s fourth language: Romansh]
| achtzehnhundert
* [https://theculturetrip.com/europe/switzerland/articles/why-are-there-four-languages-spoken-in-switzerland/ Why Are There Four Languages Spoken in Switzerland?]
| 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
|-
| 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
|-
| 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
|}


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Switzerland Language and Handwriting]]
[[Category:Switzerland Language and Handwriting]] [[Category:Language and Handwriting]]

Latest revision as of 21:04, 20 March 2024


Switzerland Wiki Topics
Flag of Switzerland
Switzerland Beginning Research
Record Types
Switzerland Background
Switzerland Genealogical Word Lists
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources

Description[edit | edit source]

Switzerland has four official languages: (Many Swiss speak more than one language)

  • German - 65% of the population (spoken in fifteen cantons)
  • French - 18% (spoken officially in six cantons: Fribourg, Vaud, Jura, Valais, Neuchâtel, and Geneva)
  • Italian - 10% (spoken in Ticino and parts of Graubünden)
  • Romansh - 1% (an old Latin dialect spoken mainly in the mountains of Graubünden)
  • Others - 6%

Records are written in the major languages and Latin which was used extensively in early records.[1] [2] [3]

Word List(s)[edit | edit source]

Alphabet and Pronunciation[edit | edit source]

Language Aids and Dictionaries[edit | edit source]

Language Aids

Dictionaries

  • Beattie, Susie. Collins German dictionary. Glasgow: HarperCollins Publisher, 2019. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Girard, Denis. Cassell's French-English, English-French dictionary. Wiley, New York: Macmillan, 2002. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Rèbora, Piero, Francis M Guercio, and Arthur Lawrence Hayward. Cassell's Italian dictionary : Italian-English, English-Italian. New York: Wiley, 2002. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Gross, Manfred and Daniel Telli. Romansh-English, English-Romansh : dictionary and phrasebook. New York: Hippocrene Books, 2007. Available at: WorldCat.

Online Dictionaries

Additional Resources[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ The Family History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “Family History Record Profile: Switzerland,” Word document, private files of the FamilySearch Content Strategy Team, 1984-1998.
  2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Switzerland," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland#Languages, accessed 8 Apr 2021.
  3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Switzerland," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Switzerland, accessed 8 Apr 2021.
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