What Language Is Spoken In Switzerland? 

What Language is Spoken in Switzerland: Swiss German, Swiss Italian, Swiss French, and Romansh are the four official languages spoken in Switzerland. Let’s explore how these languages are different from their Standard dialects and in which parts these languages are spoken.   

Switzerland, the heaven on earth, fascinates nature lovers with its mesmerizing mountain views. The country is also famous for its delicious range of chocolates and diverse ethnicities.  

What defines the culture of Switzerland is its geographical location surrounded by 5 countries – Italy, France, Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein. This has a significant impact not only on the traditions and ethnicity of the country but also on its language.  

Switzerland has been a multilingual society throughout its history, which is also one of the greatest advantages for international students.   

This blog talks about the languages spoken in Switzerland and what it means for those looking to pursue higher education or a career in the country.  

What is the official language of Switzerland?  

Whenever someone talks about Switzerland, an interesting question comes up – “what language does Switzerland speak?”   

While many believe it may be German, Italian, or French. However, only a few know that the official language of Switzerland is not one. But four.   

Yes! There are 4 official languages of Switzerland recognized by its government.  

• Swiss German  

• Swiss Italian  

• Swiss French  

• Romansh 

The best part is that it’s not only recognized on paper but executed in daily life with government documentation, day-to-day conversations, and school and university courses offered in these languages.   

This multilingual culture is a part of Switzerland’s history and is a core part of Swiss society. The students in school are required to learn at least one second national language to make society more inclusive and communications seamless.   

Though these 4 official languages of Switzerland are spoken throughout the country, the ethnic groups of respective languages are confined to specific regions of the land.  

Let’s take a closer look at the languages spoken in Switzerland.  

Swiss German  

61.8% of people in Switzerland speak German. However, you will find German-speaking populations in the northern, central, and eastern parts of the country.  

But don’t confuse Swiss German with Standard German. If you know Standard German and believe that you can fluently speak Swiss German, you are wrong.   

Swiss German and Standard German are poles apart. The former, Schwyzerdütsch as locals call it, is a collection of Alemannic dialects. You won’t find this dialect in Germany or Austria. The dialect has its own syntax, vocabulary, and pronunciation, which divides Swiss German into three families:  

1. Low Alemannic  
2. High Alemannic  
3. Highest Alemannic 

Also, the Swiss-German spoken within Switzerland also differs geographically. The local dialects of Swiss German you will witness in Aargau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Basel-Stadt, Zurich, and Graubünden differ by high margins.   

So, how do international students adjust if Swiss German is a dialect-ridden language and almost impossible to learn?  

Here comes the twist: a Swiss person can fluently converse in Standard German as well. Swiss children are taught “Standard German” from elementary school. So when a Standard German-speaking person is in the room, they can fluently talk with them.  

Also, all documentation, laws, books, and newspapers are in Standard German because there is no defined written version of Swiss German. So, the Swiss people themselves had to learn to handle Standard German.  

So, if you are an international student with Standard German skills, you can choose to study in German-speaking cantons.  

Swiss French  

Swiss French is spoken in the western part of the country. Statista survey indicates that 22.1% of people in Switzerland speak Swiss French. This makes it the second most popular spoken language in Switzerland.  

Unlike Swiss German, Swiss French and Standard French are not much different. There may be some distinctions in pronunciation expressions or vocabulary. However, someone who is fluent in Standard French language can also easily mix with Swiss French.  

For example, for numerical 70, you say “septante” in Swiss French and “soixante-dix” in Standard French. But a potato is the same in both, that is, “pomme de terre.”   

Another difference that you will find is that Swiss-French pronunciation often retains “e” at the end, which the Standard French drops.   

For example:  

• Swiss French: petite (pronounced “puh-teet”)  

• Standard French: petite (pronounced “puh-teet”, but the “e” is not emphasized)  

Let’s now look at some common phrases.  

I don’t understand:  

• Swiss French: Je ne comprends pas (no change here)  

• Standard French: Je ne pige pas (informal)  

It’s not my fault:  

• Swiss French: Ce n’est pas de ma faute  

• Standard French: C’est pas de ma faute (informal)  

Also, the use of prepositions and tenses is slightly different in Swiss French than in Standard French. For instance, using the passé composé, Standard French would use the imparfait.  

However, despite these variations, the two forms are mutually intelligible, and learners of French can often easily adapt to both.   

Swiss Italian  

Switzerland shares its southern borders with Italy. That is why you will find a Swiss-Italian-speaking population in those regions. Also, overall, 8.2% of people in Switzerland speak Italian.  

If you are fluent in Standard Italian, you will have no difficulty in understanding Swiss Italian. Although you will find dialects like Ticinese and other Lombard-influenced dialects locally, the distinctions are easy to catch up with.  

Moreover, you will also find that Swiss Italians loan words from German and French due to the multilingual nature of the country.   

For example, in Swiss German, you will say “natel” (borrowed from Swiss German) for mobile phone. Meanwhile, in Standard Italian, it is called “cellulare.”  

Also, you will find that Swiss Italian pronunciation is more influenced by Germanic languages. The “r” in Swiss Italian might sometimes be pronounced more gutturally due to the influence of Swiss German.  

This official language of Switzerland also takes some local idioms and phrases. For instance, “to catch a cold” is said “prendere un raffreddore” in Swiss Italian. But in Standard Italian, we say “prendersi un raffreddore.”  

While these differences exist, they rarely pose significant challenges to understanding, as the core of the language remains the same.  

Romansh  

Recognized in 1996, Romansh is the fourth official language of Switzerland. This language of Switzerland isn’t spoken so widely in the country. It is mostly spoken in the southeastern canton of Grisons for governance and education purposes.  

Romansh is the native language of people living in the mountains, and despite the Italian and German encroachment, it has survived the 21st century.    

Romansh has five different dialects, namely:  

1. Vallader  
2. Puter  
3. Surmerian  
4. Sutselvan  
5. Surselvan  

Unlike other languages spoken in Switzerland, Romansh also follows its own dialect in writing.  

Other Languages Spoken In Switzerland?  

Other than Switzerland’s official languages, around 5-6 foreign languages are popular in the country. This is due to the immigrant culture spreading in Switzerland for educational and professional reasons.  

Other languages spoken in Switzerland are:  

• English: 5.8 %  

• Portuguese: 3.6 %  

• Albanian: 3.1 %  

• Serbo-Croatian: 2.3  

• Spanish: 2.3 %  

• Turkish: 1.1 %   

What Does This Mean For International Students?  

If you are looking to pursue higher studies or settle down with a decent job in Switzerland, the multilingual nature of the country is very advantageous. 38% of the employees in Switzerland speak at least 2 official languages in the workplace.   

So before coming to the country, you should learn and get language certifications in any 2 of the official languages. The choice of language depends on the university you will choose to study, the profession you are aiming for, and the region/canton you will prefer to reside in. Still confused?

You can go for Swiss German and Swiss French, as these are the two most spoken languages in Switzerland. So, if you know these two languages, you can survive well in the country.  

Wondering where to learn Switzerland’s official languages?  

Kochiva offers online language courses in German, French, and Spanish. Fluency in these languages will help you pursue your dream in Switzerland.   

Enrol in Kochiva foreign language courses today!