Swiss-German Genealogical Word List
Introduction
General Word List
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 |