Switzerland is a country rich in linguistic and cultural diversity. With four national languages and many regional dialects, it is home to a very diverse population of speakers. Alphatrad tells you about the languages spoken in Switzerland, which make up the uniqueness and charm of the Swiss Confederation.
What is Switzerland's national language?
Switzerland has four national languages. Multilingualism, tied to the country's history, can be found in all aspects of Swiss society. Students are required to learn at least one other language at school, and two-thirds of the population regularly uses another language at home or at work.
German in Switzerland
German is widely spoken throughout Switzerland, especially in the northern, eastern and central parts of the country. It is the official language of several major cities, including Zurich (capital of the canton of the same name).
Approximately 70% of Switzerland's population can speak German (source: swissstats.bfs), but the dominant language remains Swiss German, which has many linguistic quirks. The language is influenced by several Alemanni dialects and is rich in French and Italian words. With their own unique syntax, vocabulary, and pronunciation, languages are usually divided into three major families:
Lower Alemannic High Alemannic Highest Alemannic.
German-speaking Switzerland therefore boasts considerable linguistic diversity, reflecting its multicultural history.
swiss french
Swiss French, also known as Swiss French, is not significantly different from its French equivalent. It has been recognized as the national language since 1848 and is also the language spoken by national representatives working at the United Nations.
Approximately 20% of Swiss people speak French at home and 28% at work (source: swissstats.bfs), making it the second most spoken language in the Swiss Confederation.
French speakers mainly live in the west of the country (in the French-speaking part of Switzerland), in the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel and Jura, but also in the canton of Bern (on the French-French border). German-speaking countries), Friborg and Valais.
Italian in Switzerland
Italian is Switzerland's third national language and is mainly spoken in certain valleys in cantons Ticino and Graubünden. Almost 8% of employed people use this language at work and 8.5% speak it at home (Source: swissstats.bfs).
The language spoken in Swiss-Italian is often mixed with local dialects, linguistic features that reflect the cultural influence of neighboring Italy. Italian Switzerland (or Svizzera italiana) is close to the northern regions of Italy (Lombardy, Piedmont, and Trentino-Alto Adige).
Swiss Romansh
Romansh is a late Romance language with roots in Latin and was recognized as an official regional language in 1938. Of course, it is used in the trilingual canton of Graubünden, where it is spoken by almost half the people in the region.
Only 0.3% of Swiss people speak Romansh at work and 0.5% at home (Source: swissstats.bfs). Therefore, rate romance speakers are usually bilingual and often speak German as a second language.
Despite its status as the region's official language, Late Romance languages are in decline.
What other languages are spoken in Switzerland?
In addition to these four national languages, Switzerland has many regional dialects or languages. Among them, Franco-Provençal (or Alpitan) and Franco-Conto are recognized by the Association's language charter. Graubünden also has five different dialects.
Sutsilvan (from sut 'bottom' and selva 'forest') Sursilvan (from sur 'top' and selva 'forest') Surmiran (from sur 'top' and meir 'wall') Puter (probably originally 'porridge' ”, meaning “one who eats porridge”) Vallader (from val “valley”).
The country also officially recognizes territorial minority languages, such as Romani and Yanish, which are spoken by at least 30,000 people.
There are other foreign languages in Switzerland, mainly spoken by the country's 1.825 billion non-citizens (source: Federal Statistical Office). The linguistic environment is enriched by English, the first non-national language of the Swiss Confederation, as well as Portuguese, Albanian, Serbian, Croatian and Spanish.
Focus on monolingual Swiss cantons
Of Switzerland's 26 cantons, 17 are monolingual German and four are monolingual French (Vaud, Geneva, Neuchâtel, and Jura). Only Ticino is monolingual in Italian. The monolingual German speaking states are:
Appenzell Outerrhoden Appenzell Innerrhoden Aargau Basel Stadt Basel Landschaft Glarus Lucerne Nidwalden Unterwald St. Petersburg Gallen Schaffhausen Solothurn Schwyz Thurgau Uri Zug Zurich
A total of 22 cantons in Switzerland are officially monolingual, but are still home to people from multiple linguistic traditions.
What language should I speak when traveling to Switzerland?
Switzerland is divided into different linguistic regions. So how do you know which language to speak while in Switzerland? The most spoken language is German, but the most widely spoken foreign language is English. Therefore, many local residents can understand it. However, knowing the vocabulary used in the state you're traveling to can help you communicate with locals who don't speak English.
Living and working in Switzerland: when do you need translation?
Living and working in Switzerland means living in a multilingual environment. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 38% of employees use at least two languages at work. If you are a foreign national, we recommend having your documents translated into at least one official language of your state.
For example, if you are applying for a job in Switzerland, you may need your diploma, resume, cover letter, and letters of recommendation. It can also be translated on a personal level, such as medical certificates, attachments, legal documents (driver's license, birth certificate, etc.), especially if you need to rent or buy real estate or a car, or if you need to may be required. Access to healthcare.
How do I translate a document into Switzerland?
At Alphatrad, our network of 3,500 native and professional translators provides translations tailored to your field of practice (legal, medical, financial, etc.). Translate your content into over 100 languages, including Romansh, French, German, Italian, and more. In particular, these experienced professionals can provide the following translation services:
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Frequently asked questions about languages spoken in Switzerland
The main language of the Swiss Confederation is Swiss German (or Schwiezerdutsch), a dialect of German mixed with an Alemannic dialect. Spoken by more than 60% of the population, it was the first official language to be recognized as an official language under Article 70 of the 1999 Federal Constitution.
Swiss French is the second official language of the Swiss Confederation. It is mainly spoken in the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel and Jura, which make up the French-speaking part of Switzerland. It is one of the national languages recognized by the country.
Switzerland has three official languages.
German – spoken by approximately 60% of the population French – spoken by approximately 20% of the Swiss population Italian – minority language spoken by approximately 8% of the population.
Late Romance languages are not official languages, but were designated as official regional languages in 1999. Since then, federal authorities have used the language to communicate with representatives of the canton of Graubünden, where it is located.
