A collection of useful phrases in the Lucerne (Lozärn) variety of Swiss German, which is spoken in the Canton of Lucerne in central Switzerland.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: sg = said to one person, pl = said to more than one person, inf = informal, frm = formal.
| English | Schwitzerdütsch (Swiss German of Lucerne) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Wilkomme |
| Hello (General greeting) | Grüezi (frm) Sali (inf) Grüezi metendand (pl/frm) Sali zämme (pl/inf) Hoi zäme |
| How are you? | Wie gohts ehne? (frm) Wie gohts dr? (inf) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Danke, guet. ond ehne? (frm) Danke, guet, ond der? (inf) |
| Long time no see | Mer händ üs aber scho lang nöme gseh |
| What's your name? | Wie heisisch du? |
| My name is ... | Ech heisse Mi name isch ... |
| Where are you from? | Wohär chömed si? (frm) Wohär chonsch du? (inf) |
| I'm from ... | Ech chome vo ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Schön dech kennezlehre |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Guete Morge |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Gueten Abig Guete Daag |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Gueten obig |
| Good night | Guet Nacht |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Uf Widerluege Ciao Tschüss Bis spöter Sali Adieu Bis gli |
| Good luck! | Alles Gueti Veel Glöck |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Broscht! Zum Wohl! |
| Have a nice day | Ech wönsche ehne en schöne Tag! (frm) Wönsch dr en schöne Tag! (inf) |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
En Guete! |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Gueti Reis! |
| I understand | Ech verstohs |
| I don't understand | Ech verstohs ned |
| Please speak more slowly | Chönted si bitte chli langsamer rede? (frm) Chöntisch du bitte chli langsamer rede? (inf) |
| Please write it down | Chönted si das bitte ufschribe? (frm) Chöntisch du das bitte ufschribe? (inf) |
| Do you speak Swiss German? | Chöned si schwizerdütsch rede? (frm) Chasch du schwizerdütsch rede? (inf) |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Ja es betzeli |
| How do you say ... in Swiss German? | Wie seisch .... uf Schwiizerdütsch? |
| Excuse me | Entscholdigung |
| How much is this? | Wieveel choschtet das? |
| Sorry | Das duet mer leid |
| Thank you | Merci Merci vielmal Danke Danke veelmal |
| Reply to thank you | Nüt z'dangge Gäärn gscheh |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Wo esch s WC? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Däh Herr zahlt für alles |
| This lady will pay for everything | Die Dame zahlt für alles |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Wördisch du ächt met mer tanze? |
| I love you | Ech liebe dech |
| Get well soon | Gueti Besserig |
| Leave me alone! | Bitte loh mech lo si |
| Help! | Hilfe! |
| Fire! | Füür! |
| Stop! | Stop! |
| Call the police! | Hol d'Polizei! |
| Christmas greetings | Schöni Fäschttäg Schöni Wienachte |
| New Year greetings | E guets neus Jahr E guete Rutsch is neue Johr E guets neus Joor |
| Easter greetings | Schöni Oschtere |
| Birthday greetings | Härzlechi Gratulation zom Gebortstag! |
| One language is never enough | Ei Sproch esch nie gnueg |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Mit Loftchösiboot esch voll met Aale |
Phrases supplied by Sonja Roth
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Collections of Swiss German phrases
http://www.eldrid.ch/swgerman.htm
http://wikitravel.org/en/Swiss-German_phrasebook
http://www.todaytourism.com/travel-guides/Basics-in-Swiss-German-phrasebook.html
Information about Swiss German | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel | Books about Swiss German on: Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk [affilate links]
Afrikaans, Alsatian, American Norwegian, Bavarian, Cimbrian, Danish, Dutch, Elfdalian, English (British), Faroese, Flemish (West), Frisian (North - Bökingharde), Frisian (North - Sylt), Frisian (Saterland), Frisian (West), German, Gothic, Icelandic, Limburgish, Low Saxon, Luxembourgish, Norwegian, Old English, Pennsylvania German/Dutch, Scots, Stellingwarfs, Swedish, Swiss German (Basel dialect), Swiss German (Chur dialect), Swiss German (Lucerne dialect), Värmlandic, West Jutlandic, Westrobothnian, Wymsorys, Yiddish
Learn Swiss German Online / Schweizerdeutsch lernen online
[top]
You can support this site by Buying Me A Coffee, and if you like what you see on this page, you can use the buttons below to share it with people you know.
If you like this site and find it useful, you can support it by making a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or by contributing in other ways. Omniglot is how I make my living.
Note: all links on this site to Amazon.com
[top]
