Dialect-able
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Sälü: an informal greeting, from the French "Salut". Other words on the wall are more globalised. swissinfo.ch -
Schnipo: a portmanteau of "schnitzel" and "pommes frites". swissinfo.ch -
Ändu: diminutive for Andreas. swissinfo.ch -
Leidi Sach: üble Geschichte. An ugly business. swissinfo.ch -
Exgüse: Verzeihung. Excuse me. From the French "s'excuser". swissinfo.ch -
Rösti: a Swiss-German dish of roughly grated potatoes, shaped into patties which are then fried. swissinfo.ch -
Machöli: diminutive of macho. swissinfo.ch -
Luusmeitli: Lausmädchen. Naughty girl. swissinfo.ch -
Chäsbrätel: Käsegericht. A simple cheese dish. En Gueta: Mahlzeit. How people in Bern say bon appetit. swissinfo.ch -
Schiri: diminutive of Schiedsrichter. Ref(eree). swissinfo.ch -
Liefere statt lavere: work don't chat. swissinfo.ch -
Himelgüegeli: Marienkäfer. Ladybird. swissinfo.ch -
Beck: Bäcker. Baker. Chräbeli: Änisgebäck. Aniseed biscuit. swissinfo.ch -
Seckle: Laufen. Running. An advert for the Bern street run. swissinfo.ch
A small dialect Swiss-German glossary for beginners.
This content was published on May 16, 2011 - 20:37
(Pictures: Christoph Balsiger, swissinfo.ch)
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