How many languages are speaking in switzerland

What languages are spoken in Switzerland?

Switzerland is definitely one of the more unique countries in the world, and its scenic display of mountains isn’t the only thing attracting people. From their chocolate to their diversity, Swiss people have their own way of going about their lives, and it seems to be distinct in everything.

While Switzerland is known for its cuisine and punctuality, the number of their national languages often finds its way in conversations. And for good reason. Switzerland is home to four languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh.

When you walk the Swiss streets or ride their trains, you will mostly hear German and French murmuring, and to get by there, people usually have to know at least one of their national languages. Swiss people aren’t really big on the English language idea, and they prefer to stick to theirs.В

Even Swiss universities are divided with their language of instruction depending on the canton they’re based in. Although they have a number of schools with English programs, so international students don’t feel left out, if studying in Switzerland has been on your agenda, it would be best to opt for enriching your portfolio with their national languages.В

German

German is the most widely spoken language in Switzerland. Around 60% of the population speak Swiss-German referred to as SchwiizertГјtsch. This version of German is a result of a combination of various dialects that used to be spoken in Germany and Austria.В

Swiss-German is mostly spoken in the eastern and central parts of Switzerland, and it is not to be confused with the «German» language. The two differ so much, that if you attempted to speak Swiss-German to an actual German, chances are they wouldn’t understand a word of it.В

On the other hand, Swiss people do understand German because in schools they learn Standard German. This happens because of the missing written version of Swiss-German dialects that are used throughout the country, and it comes in handy when speaking to their neighbor countries like Germany and Austria.

FrenchВ

French is one of the more romantic languages to find its way in Switzerland. While Swiss-German is miles away from German, the French spoken there is pretty similar to the standard one. It does, however, have a more old-fashioned vibe to it.

French-speaking Swiss people make up about 20% of the population, mostly concentrated in the western part of Switzerland. And, if you’re planning on paying a visit to Geneva or Lausanne, make sure to pack a phrasebook, because even if English is widely spoken in Switzerland, this part of Switzerland relies solely on French.В

It is worth noting that non-French speakers seem to favor the Swiss version of it, and especially when it comes to the numbers. France is known for the play with the numbers, such as saying ‘four-twenties-ten’ when speaking for the number ninety (90). In Swiss-French, however, it is referred to it as nonante.

Italian

Italian seems to have found its way to the southern borders of Switzerland, closely clinging to Italy. Italian-speaking people in Switzerland account for around 8% of the whole population, making it the third most-spoken language in the country.

Similar to French, there is no great division between the language spoken in Italy and the Swiss version of it. The most significant differences come from the literal translation—which in Switzerland are called calques—of a French expression into Italian. This can sound weird to Italians, as they mostly have simpler phrases that refer to the same thing.В

Although there are some dialects circling in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, the version taught in schools is standard Italian.

Romansh

Romansh is one of the less spread languages in Switzerland and one that only recently gained its official recognition in 1996. Despite gaining recognition so late, Romansh has been spoken for centuries in the south-eastern part of the country.

However small the number of Romansh-speaking people may be, this language has five distinct dialects with spoken and written versions. Although there are five dialects, Switzerland developed a unified version of it to preserve the language, but it wasn’t met with positivity from a lot of Romansh-speakers.

This language is believed to have originated when the Romans conquered Rhaetia (now known as GraubГјnden) centuries ago. It is a hybrid language made up from the Vulgar Latin used by soldiers and colonists, and the native language called Rhaetian. Nowadays, it is referred to as a Romance language, with most of its syntax and vocabulary being borrowed from German.

Multilingualism in Daily Life

In schools the Swiss tend to learn three languages from an early age—with one being another native language and the other being a foreign one—this doesn’t hold up much in their later years. Most of the Swiss people resort to their cantonal language in their day-to-day life.

This is not to say that they don’t know more than one, it is just more likely to hear them speak the official language of the canton they live in. But, they tend to be multilingual with their signs, advertisement, and announcements, as not to make anyone feel left out.В

It’s worth noting that cantons in Switzerland can be bilingual or monolingual, and only one—the Romansh-speaking Graubünden—being a trilingual canton. However, most of them have only one of the four languages as their official one. But, when visiting areas that speak only one language, you will feel as if you embarked on the country of origin itself. There are small Italian, French, and German places hiding around every corner.

Switzerland is one of a few countries to truly embrace its multilingualism and diversity. Not only that, but this is one of the things they take the most pride in, and rightfully so. They even have language quirks to each one of them, with some—like Swiss-German—deviating from the original language completely.

Swiss people take their multilingualism seriously, and it can be seen in the way 90% of the population voted on preserving and making Romansh an official language, even though only about 0.5% of the population actually speaks it. This goes to show just how much they respect diversity and others’ identities.

About the Author: Arta Mekuli is a young student, eager to write about what’s important, interesting, and all the things in between. With a hunger for knowledge and distributing it to others, she now writes for Studying in Switzerland, which is a blog dedicated to giving you all the information you’ll need for life in Switzerland.

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What Languages Do They Speak in Switzerland?

Answering the question «What is the official language in your country?» is easy in most places around the world. But if you ask someone from Switzerland, well, things get a bit more complicated. This is where the counting and explaining come in.

Switzerland is renowned for its top-notch quality of life, perfect infrastructure, and environmentally-friendly outlook. It’s also #5 on the top 10 places to study abroad in the world this year. The key to the Swiss success and harmony might be in the level of diversity in this country. After all, the country has four official languages.

Not one, or two – four!

The four official languages are German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Each of them is spoken in different regions. This makes it a dream for any international student!

Not only are university programs offered in various languages, but it makes everyday communication easier. Four times easier, you could say!

Let’s take a closer look at the languages and the regions they are spoken in.

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German

Swiss German is spoken in the northern, eastern, and central parts of the country, and is spoken by 63 % of the population, making it the primary language in Switzerland. Its speakers refer to it as Dialekt, Mundart, or just Dütsch.

However, if you decide to study in one of the Swiss German-speaking cantons, you should know that this language also has a range of different dialects. Therefore, it can be rather tricky to understand if you are used to speaking standard German.

But don’t let this discourage you! Standard German is still used for formal correspondence, in books, and in newspapers, which makes things a bit easier.

Swiss German, on the other hand, is a collection of Alemannic dialects no longer spoken in Germany or Austria, peppered with a whole lot of French expressions. The Swiss Germans take pride in the diversity of their dialects.

You’ll find the same words being used differently in Zurich, Bern, or Basel. Again, no need to worry, when in doubt, politely ask for clarification!

French

Swiss French is the second most popular language in Switzerland. It is spoken mostly in western Switzerland, covering the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, and Jura. Despite the name, there is very little difference between the French spoken in Switzerland and that spoken in France.

Some do claim that Swiss French sounds slower, due to its longer vowels. This is good news for speakers of standard French as they won’t encounter any difficulties chit-chatting with locals from the French-speaking areas. Another advantage for French speakers is that the popular travel destinations, such as Lausanne and Geneva, are entirely French-speaking.

Italian

Swiss Italian is the language spoken in the canton of Ticino and the southern part of Graubünden (Canton Grigioni). This part of Switzerland boasts a unique blend of Swiss and Italian culture, which is just one of the reasons to visit and study here.

Known historically as Lombard, Swiss Italian is spoken by about 350,000 people. It is also influenced by German and French, so some differences might be confusing if you studied or speak standard Italian. Don’t worry, though; you might still manage to communicate pretty well.

Romansh

The final piece in this Swiss linguistic treat is Romansh. With only 37,000 speakers, it is the language with the fewest speakers in Switzerland. But that doesn’t mean its history is any less rich!

Like Italian and French, Romansh is a Romance language. In 15 B.C., when the Romans conquered the province of Rhaetia, their language was influenced by that spoken by the native people. This unusual combination created Rumantsch.

Although not very famous outside of Switzerland, Romansh is used in governance, education, and is spoken freely as a community language. While there are different dialects of Romansh, a linguistic consensus was used to create the language used today.

What’s even more impressive about this language is the fact that it survived into the 21st century. Now, that would make for a compelling linguistic study!

How does this translate for international students?

As an international student, you can use the multilingualism of Switzerland to your advantage.

For starters, there are numerous Swiss banks, companies, and political organizations looking for people fluent in one of the official languages.

If the fantastic nature and the fact that language is not a problem has put Switzerland on your study destination list, make sure to check out the admission requirements so you can adequately prepare.

Languages in Switzerland: the multilingual alpine nation

Find out which of the four official languages of Switzerland you should be speaking and where to learn them with this helpful guide.

Switzerland has not one, but four official languages, and depending on where you live in the country, you might hear German, French, Italian, or Romansh – or a combination of them. Although English is the lingua franca among expats living in Switzerland, learning a local language can be useful. That said, it is important to realize that each Swiss canton has its own dialect of German, French, Italian, and Romansh. These can also differ from the standard language you would hear in France, Germany, or Italy.

To help you navigate the various languages of Switzerland, this guide covers the following topics:

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What languages are spoken in Switzerland

Although German is the most widely spoken language in Switzerland, the version that you will hear in the country is quite different from standard High German. In fact, people in Switzerland speak Swiss-German, which is usually called Mundart by locals and has many of its own local dialects. Interestingly, there are enough differences between these dialects that you can pinpoint the speaker’s exact hometown. On the other hand, there are enough similarities between these different dialects that any Swiss-German speaker will be able to understand them.

One of the many multilingual signs you will come across in Switzerland

Generally speaking, the trickest dialects can be found in the remote valleys of Switzerland; especially in the canton of Valais in the south. Interestingly, in 2002, German and French speakers in Switzerland were asked which Swiss-German dialect they liked best. By a significant margin, the Bernese dialect came out on top with 27% of the votes. The dialect of Valais got a respectable 20%, while the harsher Zürich dialect received just 10%.

The Swiss-German dilemma

A total of 58.5% of the Swiss population speak Swiss-German which is partly because 17 of the 26 Swiss cantons use it as their sole official language. However, although Swiss schools teach High German, the locals actually speak Swiss-German, which is something altogether quite different. In fact, Swiss-German is often so different that even Germans and Austrians sometimes can’t understand it. The written language can also cause problems due to the contrasts in grammatical structures and the use of words. In fact, even students struggle with the differences between Swiss-German and High German. Indeed, they are often so familiar with their own local dialects that they find it difficult to learn High German. And because Swiss-French and Swiss-Italian speakers learn High German in school, they often can’t understand local dialects, either. So as you can see, learning German in Switzerland can be rather complicated.

Other languages and dialects in Switzerland

Swiss-German might be the main language in Switzerland, but it isn’t the only one. Indeed, French, Italian, and Romansh are also spoken throughout the country. Furthermore, each of these languages has different dialects. Many people learn English, too, which is convenient for expats.

French

Some 30% of the Swiss population speaks French. Traditionally, French-speaking Switzerland spoke different local patois which are a structurally separate language from Franco-Provençal. These days, however, Swiss-French bears more resemblance to standard French. Of course, some regional words and expressions do still exist in the French-speaking parts of Switzerland. That said, the gaps in understanding are far smaller than they are in the German language.

Italian

Dialects are part of the citizens’ linguistic repertoire in Italian-speaking Switzerland. The standard language is used in writing and in public, while the dialect is mainly reserved for the private sphere. Swiss-Italian is a variant of what you would hear in Italy. Currently, 8.2% of the Swiss population speak Swiss-Italian, which includes the Lombard dialect. Although Swiss-Italian does have some similarities to standard Italian, the local variant has German and French influences.

Romansh

Although Romansh has very few speakers – just 0.5% of the Swiss population – it is actually made up of five dialects, each of which has its own written style. To make it an official language, Switzerland brought these dialects under the official umbrella language of Romansch Grischun in 1982. However, this official language is mainly used by the government. In their day-to-day use of the language, many Romansh speakers resort to their own dialect. Nowadays, though, the language has international standing and is even part of the language library on Microsoft software. Lia Rumantscha oversees the interests of the Romansh language as a whole.

English

Foreigners sometimes assume that because there are four national languages in Switzerland, most residents speak all of them – or at least more than one. The reality, however, is quite different. While the Swiss are certainly proud of their linguistic proficiency and many are indeed multilingual, the languages they speak might surprise you. In general, most people in the country speak their mother tongue (usually an official language of their canton), a second national language, and English.

Plenty of large employers in Switzerland, like UN Geneva, have multilingual offices

Because of the Swiss governance system, each canton decides which language resident children learn – and when. In the German-speaking cantons, children learn French from the age of nine. Similarly, French-speaking Swiss children begin learning German at the same age. In the Italian and Romansh-speaking areas, however, schools teach both French and German. In Ticino, English is also compulsory from the eighth grade and students can drop French at this time.

Interestingly, Zurich’s education minister made an announcement in the year 2000 that sparked a heated national debate. He revealed that he intended to prioritize English as the main foreign language of the canton, instead of French. Although his supporters agreed that English would be of more use to most citizens, others felt that the move would be a disadvantage for many citizens who need to be conversant in German in order to get ahead in their careers in Switzerland.

Where the Swiss languages are spoken worldwide

Although German, French, and Italian are spoken in different parts of the world, the Swiss variants of these languages aren’t widely spoken outside the country. That said, you might still hear them occasionally.

German

Some Swiss-German dialects are similar enough to other Alemannic dialects that you might be able to use them in some places; for example, in Liechtenstein and Austria’s Vorarlberg state. However, Swiss-German is different enough from High German that most people in Germany wouldn’t understand it. Luckily, though, High German is widely taught at schools in the German regions of Switzerland, so Swiss-German speakers would be able to have at least a basic conversation with the world’s 130 million native German speakers. It is also a popular second language in non-German parts of Switzerland.

French

Swiss-French is the second most widely spoken language in Switzerland and used by more than two million people. Although there are some differences between Swiss-French and standard French, you can still use the language in France, Belgium, and other Francophile countries. Indeed, the world’s 275 million French speakers would probably understand you. Naturally, lessons are taught in French at schools in the French-speaking cantons. It is also a common second language in other cantons and a very popular second language across the world; especially in international schools.

Italian

Swiss-Italian is the official language in the canton of Ticino and the southern region of Graubünden which are home to around 350,000 native speakers. The traditional dialect of Ticino – Ticinese – is a western Lombard dialect that is influenced by French and German and, therefore, different from standard Italian. As a result, there are phrases that wouldn’t be understood outside of Italian-speaking Switzerland.

That said, the dialect can be used across the border in northern Italian in cities such as Milan, Monza, Como, Lecco, and Novara. Although schools teach Lombard in the Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland, it is less common as a second language in other parts of the country.

Romansh

The fourth official language in Switzerland, Romansh is the least common. In fact, only around 60,000 people speak it, and this is mostly in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. As such, it is not at all widely used around the world and is not a common second language.

The origins and history of languages in Switzerland

Switzerland is a Willensnation – ‘a nation of will’. This means that each of the country’s 26 cantons functions almost as an autonomous administrative area and agrees to work with each other. As such, Switzerland is a federation of co-equal cantons, rather than a uniform nation in its own right. In fact, historically, Swiss cantons were sovereign states with their own borders, armies, governments, and languages. Because of this, there is, in fact, no singular Swiss language, but rather four official languages.

The map of language distribution in Switzerland (Image: Tschubby/Wikimedia)

The languages spoken in each Swiss canton are a result of its history and geographical location. For instance, Lombard is the main language in the south, across the border from Italy. Swiss-French, on the other hand, is the lingua franca of the west where the country borders with France. Similarly, Eastern and Central Switzerland have a strong German influence and many people there speak Swiss-German.

German

Swiss-German is actually a collection of Alamannic dialects that come from southwest Germany and the Alsace region of France. The language developed over several centuries as a result of the country’s strong links to Germany. Germanic tribes came to Switzerland in the fifth century, following the collapse of the western Roman Empire. Later, in 1291, the three German-Swiss cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden formed the first Swiss Confederation. In the late middle ages, the Swiss Confederation had strong ties to southern German cities, leading to a growth in Swiss-German dialects. Nowadays, the dialects are different enough that it is possible to tell where someone was born and raised.

French

The history of the French language in Switzerland traces back to the geopolitical realities of the time. Although the western cantons of Vaud, Neuchâtel, Freiburg, and Valais were, at one point, under the control of the Roman Empire, they were dominated by the Kingdom of Burgundy after the sixth century.

Sion, the capital of Valais

By the 13th century, however, the French House of Savoy, Bishop of Lausanne, and House of Neuchâtel were in charge of these cantons, and French became increasingly popular. The German influence grew in the cantons of Freiburg and Valais, which is why French is now only spoken in parts of these two cantons. Vaud became the first fully French-speaking Swiss Canton after the Confederation of 1803.

Later, under Napoleon, the western cantons came under personal French control. Neuchâtel, for instance, became the personal property of French Marshal Berthier. Furthermore, after the French Revolution, the French policy of education ensured that the French spoken in Switzerland was similar to that in France. That said, in the cantons of Freiburg and Valais, German influence has resulted in the addition of German phrases.

Italian

Swiss-Italian traces its roots to the Latin of the Roman Empire. There are, in fact, two Swiss-Italian dialects: Ticinese (the dialect of the Ticino canton) and the more general Lombard dialect. Both owe their development to the proximity of Italy, which sits just across the Alps. Over the centuries, however, Swiss-Italian morphed through influences from Italian lords, German rulers, and the French revolution. As a result, many phrases in Swiss-Italian are derived from French or German and wouldn’t be understood in Italy.

Romansh

Technically, Romansh is a Romance language and a descendent of the Latin of the Roman Empire. The language draws a lot on German vocabulary and Alemmanic and Bavarian dialects. This is because in 15BC, Romans dominated the Rhaetia province. Although Romansh became a national language in Switzerland in 1938, it only became an official language in 1996.

Interesting facts about languages in Switzerland

Learning the languages of Switzerland

If you are moving to Switzerland, then you won’t find too much of a language barrier, at least not in the more urban areas. After all, many Swiss residents speak some level of English. That said, you will find it much easier if you try to learn the main language of your canton; for example, French in Geneva or German in Zurich. And because there are many ways to do this, you should be able to make a good attempt.

If you would like to learn one of Switzerland’s languages before you move, you might want to consider using an online language learning platform. Many of these offer 1-to-1 lessons that can be scheduled around your lifestyle. Online language schools include:

Of course, there are also a number of in-person classes that you can take both in Switzerland and before you even travel. Search online for your nearest school. Generally speaking, German and French classes will be the easiest to find. However, there are options for the other languages, such as the two-week intensive course at SUPSI. Additionally, Cudoo offers an online Romansh course.

Many expats actually prefer to look for more casual ways to learn a language in Switzerland. This might involve watching TV shows or movies with English subtitles or joining language exchange groups on Facebook and Meetup.

What Are the Languages Spoken in Switzerland?

Switzerland is generally known for its exceptional chocolate, amazing mountains, and delicious food. Among other things Switzerland is famous for, is its language diversity. But how do they manage to get along and communicate in four official languages? A question people immediately ask when they hear about it is “Does everyone speak all of them?”

The Four Official Languages in Switzerland

Even though the country is multilingual, the residents themselves do not speak all four languages. Switzerland consists of 26 cantons, and the language that is spoken in those cantons depends on their geographic position and the countries closest to them.

Further on, we will get a more in-depth look at Switzerland languages, based on information obtained from public-accessible data.

German

The German language is spoken in the eastern and central parts of Switzerland. The majority (about 60%) of the population speak Swiss-German, otherwise known as Schwiizertütsch which is a combination of various dialects that were once spoken in Austria and Germany. So, if you were to attempt to speak Schwiizertütsch to a German you will most likely be met with a confused or blank face. It is also difficult for a non-German to learn to speak it.

A large variety of these dialects is constantly spoken among Swiss Germans, which differ depending on the community that uses them. While in many countries dialects are usually looked upon, in Switzerland, they are especially favored and nurtured.

From an early age, the Swiss are taught Standard German (or High-German) in schools, since there is no official written language. This enables them to communicate with Germans and Austrians without any problem. Additionally, Standard German is used for news broadcasts, information signs, public announcements, and other formal occasions.

French

French is spoken in the western part of Switzerland, by about 20% of the population. Standard French does not differ much from Swiss-French, spoken written and spoken pretty much the same as in France. Still, the differences you encounter are much more pleasant for those who are just learning the language, especially the numbers! The Swiss dialect has a slower pace and a lovely old-fashioned quality.

French is spoken exclusively in the Romandy region of Switzerland, which covers the cantons of Geneva, Jura, Vaud, Neuchâtel, and in parts of Bern, Valais, and Fribourg.

Italian

The Swiss-Italian dialect differs from the one spoken in Italy, but standard Italian is still the written language. The cantons that speak Swiss-Italian include Ticino, the southern regions of Graubünden, and Gondo valley in Valais.

Romansh

Romansh, or Rumantsch, has been spoken for centuries in some valleys of Graubünden but it was not recognized as a national language until 1938 and has become an official language only in 1996. It has five dialects despite the small size (less than 1%) of the community that speaks it. It is regularly referred to as a romance language that has borrowed a large portion of its syntax from German. Most of the Romansh-speaking community start learning German in kindergarten and therefore it is easy for them to speak without an Italian or French accent.

The Influence of Immigrants’ Languages

Since immigrants have brought their own language with them in Switzerland, as a whole they have now outnumbered both Rumantsch and Italian. Around 5.1% of the population lists English as one of their main languages, followed by Portuguese at 3.7% and Albanian at 3.1%, according to the Federal Statistical Office (link is in French).

Immigrants speak their mother tongue in their private homes, so they rely on the official Swiss language of the region they reside in to read product declarations in the supermarket, to stay informed about important events in Switzerland, and to communicate.

Language Barriers

The cantons in Switzerland are very autonomous and have their own authorities. Therefore, education, tax systems, and much more are different in every canton, which can get fairly complicated. The average Swiss has a strong feeling of belonging towards his or her home canton, especially in the German-speaking part; rather than calling themselves just Swiss, they are Zürcher, Basler, or Berner (a person from Zurich, Basel, or Bern).

Therefore, Kantönligeist is sometimes also used to describe the attitude of residents from one canton towards people from another. If you were to ask the swiss how they keep the cantons unified, the common answer would be that they stick together since they dislike others more… and their love for cheese! But on a serious note, the respective Swiss-speaking residents have solidarity with other neighbors that speak the same language, since they are their doctors, clerks, maintenance people, etc.

As stated by BBC, they’re all held together in what the Swiss call ‘Willensnation’. It literally means a ‘nation by will’, but in Switzerland the word takes on a special significance, conveying ‘a nation born with the desire to live together’. In the end, everyone values their independence and uniqueness to divide the nation without being affected by the overlapping of the languages.

Swiss Languages Facts

Kantönligeist

The Swiss have a word called Kantönligeist (meaning cantonal patriotism). It refers to the unique identity, culture, and history that every canton has. It was connoted in a slightly negative way for the strong federalism in Switzerland.

Röschtigraben

A term you will definitely come across while living in Switzerland is Röschtigraben or Rideau de Rösti (literally meaning the Rösti line), which is a potato dish, especially popular in the German-speaking part of the country. The name refers to the invisible line that splits the French and German-speaking parts of Switzerland and the undeniable dissimilarities, especially when it comes to votes. Geographically, the Röschtigraben follows the Saane River running through the bilingual canton of Fribourg.

Monolingual and bilingual cantons

22 cantons have only one official language despite there being four official languages.

Some of the cantons that are bilingual are Fribourg/Freiburg, Berne/Bern, and Valais/Wallis.

English as the language of business

English is used as the common language of business in Switzerland. The canton of Zurich discussed implementing English as the first language since it is used as the common language of business in Switzerland.

The primary language in schools

When it comes to the school curriculum each canton decides when and what supplementary languages are added. The French and Italian speaking population add German as the primary language to learn. Swiss-Germans add French.

The Francophone Festival

There is an annual event around March 20th called The Francophone Festival that celebrates the French language and its population in Switzerland.

Trilingual Graubünden

Even though Romansh is mostly spoken by the Rumantsch themselves, the Graubünden canton is the only canton that is trilingual.

There you had it, the very interesting languages of Switzerland and everything in between.

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Languages

Keystone / Peter Klaunzer

Switzerland has four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh. English, though not an official language, is often used to bridge the divides, and a significant proportion of official documentation is available in English.

Switzerland is made up of four different linguistic areas, namely a German-speaking part, a French-speaking part, an Italian-speaking part and a Romansh-speaking part. Four cantons (Bern, Fribourg, Valais and Graubünden) and one city (Biel/Bienne) are officially bilingual.

Switzerland’s four languages

This content was published on Feb 1, 2021 Feb 1, 2021 In Switzerland, over two-thirds of the population aged 15 or over in Switzerland regularly use more than one language.

According to the Federal Law on National Languages, the official languages of Switzerland are German, French and Italian, as well as Romansh in dealings with people who speak this language. Romansh is a Rhaeto-Romance language with Latin roots and is widely spoken in the canton of Graubünden.

The most notable linguistic fact about German-speaking Switzerland is the use of dialect for spoken communication and standard German for written communication. This makes the task of language-learning in German-speaking areas more challenging for foreigners. Complicating matters further, there is not just one Swiss German dialect but several, which can differ significantly from one canton to the next.

English as a common language in Switzerland: a positive or a problem?

This content was published on Apr 4, 2021 Apr 4, 2021 It’s not unusual to hear Swiss people from different parts of the country chatting away in English. But what does it mean for national identity?

Over 60% of the population speaks German (both standard German and Swiss German) as their main language, while over 20% speaks French, around 8% Italian and under 1% Romansh. Over 20% of residents have another language as their mother tongue, primarily English, Portuguese and Albanian.

Proportionately, the number of speakers of French and non-national languages is increasing, to the detriment of German, Italian and Romansh. Swiss German is the most widely spoken language at the workplace, followed by standard German, French, English and Italian.

French flourishes in Switzerland

This content was published on Mar 3, 2019 Mar 3, 2019 While French is spoken more and more, fewer and fewer Swiss speak German regularly. The main reason for this is migration.

Ability to speak a national language remains important for integration. Language courses, from weekly classes to intensive courses, are widely available in every region. Prices and methods vary, so it is worth shopping around.

For more information on multilingualism in Switzerland, see:

The fight for gender equality in Swiss art institutions

Art museums are still mostly occupied by works made by men. Awareness has only recently been raised in Switzerland, stirring the cultural scene.

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