At German Academy Zurich, our German language courses are designed to help expats and newcomers quickly grasp the foundations of the language. If you’re wondering how to speak basic German in Switzerland, starting with key expressions and real-life vocabulary is the best first step.
Some of the most useful German phrases for beginners include everyday expressions like ‘Wie heisst du?’ (What’s your name?), ‘Ich verstehe nicht’ (I don’t understand), and ‘Können Sie das bitte wiederholen?’ (Can you please repeat that?). These simple phrases are essential for building confidence in basic conversations and navigating daily life in a German-speaking environment.
Alongside structured digital lessons, we also recommend German books for beginners to read, which help reinforce what you learn in class and improve reading comprehension. Our course guides also explore proven ways of improving language skills, from practicing with a private tutor to using everyday phrases during travel, errands, and casual conversations.
Basic Phrases for Non-German Expats in Switzerland
Let’s start with some simple phrases you’ll use in everyday conversation. Even if you’re at the beginning of our A1 course, being able to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ or explain that you don’t know a great deal of Swiss German is helpful and will ensure that the people you encounter know you may need a little assistance.
Here are some of the useful phrases you will use most often:
- ‘Entschuldigung’: This means ‘excuse me,’ and is used in the same context as in English when passing somebody or requesting help.
- ‘Danke’ means ‘thank you,’ and ‘Danke vielmals’ means ‘thanks very much.’ ‘Bitte’ is used in various ways to say ‘please,’ ‘you’re welcome,’ or ‘excuse me.’ You can also respond to ‘Danke’ with ‘Nichts zu danken’ or ‘Gern geschehen.’
- If you’re trying to recall a word from your German lessons, you can ask ‘Wie sagt man das auf Detsch?’ (replacing the hyphen with the word in English you’re looking for), or ask ‘Sprechen Sie Englisch?’ to see if the person speaks English.
You’ll also likely wish to greet people in their native language, and you can use ‘Guten Morgen’ for ‘good morning,’ ‘Guten Tag’ for ‘good day,’ ‘Guten Abend’ for ‘good evening,’ or a simple ‘Grüezi’ for ‘hello!’
Asking For Help or Assistance in Swiss German
Next, let’s work through some phrases you’ll need to request assistance, which may be very important if you’ve recently moved, aren’t familiar with the area, or need directions.
- ‘Was kostet das?’ translates to a query about how much something costs. You can also ask ‘Bitte schreiben Sie das auf?’ if you’d like the price to be written down for you.
- ‘Bitte sagen Sie mir wo – ist?’ is a way to ask for directions to a destination or place (again, replacing the hyphen with the location you’d like to find).
- If you have lost your wallet, you can say ‘Ich habe meinen Geldbeutel verloren’, the problem. Expats can also say ‘Hilfe’ to request help in an emergency.
As many second-language speakers know, some phrases are used in casual conversation. If you’re making friends, joining a workplace, or socializing, they’ll help you grasp what people are saying. For example, somebody saying ‘goodbye’ might use ‘Auf Wiedersehen,’ ‘Bis später,’ or ‘Tschüss’–all of which mean very much the same thing!
