Swiss German vs Standard German: How Are They Different?

Switzerland is a famously neutral country. They politely declined to get involved in both World Wars and haven’t participated in a foreign conflict for well over 200 years (since 1815).

Some would say this neutrality policy has spilled over into the world of linguistics. The Swiss habit of not taking sides has resulted in two main languages within its borders: Swiss German and Standard German, or as it’s often called, High German. The resulting Swiss German vs Standard German debate has defined the country’s language landscape for decades.

So, what are the differences between German and Swiss German? Let’s get into it.

Introduction to Swiss German and Standard German

While German is the dominant tongue in Switzerland, each canton (or region) speaks its own unique dialect of German. Known as Schweizerdeutsch (Swiss German), these regional variations of the German language are distinct throughout the country.

A city slicker from Bern, for example, may have difficulty comprehending a farmer from the Canton of the Grisons. Given these seemingly endless examples of Swiss-style “lost in translation,” a solution of sorts helps mitigate regional communication problems: Standard German.

Known as Schriftdeutsch, this national language is utilized for government communication, official contracts & documents, and formal speaking.

So, is Swiss German the same as German? The Swiss German vs German differences are largely a product of dialects – similar to the variations in Swiss German across the country’s 26 cantons.

5 Differences Between German and Swiss German

While remarkably similar in some aspects – both languages have insanely long words – the Swiss German vs Standard German contrast is evident with a few key distinctions. Starting with, as you might expect, the actual words that comprise each language!

1. Vocabulary. Regular German and Swiss German vocabulary part ways in one key area: loan words. Swiss German, due to its regional enclaves, is much more prone to taking words from other languages and morphing them into the lexicon. In many instances, Swiss German doesn’t even bother to modify the original foreign word, and just uses it as-is! Here are a few examples of the Swiss German vs Standard German vocabulary contrasts:

While French words are more commonly found in Swiss German than regular German, Italian words are also utilized, particularly in southern regions of Switzerland. The Cantons of Ticino and Grisons (both great snowboarding spots, by the way), which border Northern Italy, occasionally use Italian loan words.

2. One is a language – the other is not. This is a key distinction that sometimes gets overlooked when comparing Swiss German vs German. The latter, of course, is an officially recognized language in its home country, plus plenty of others (Belgium, Austria, Luxembourg, and even Switzerland). Swiss German isn’t technically a language. It’s actually a group of Alemannic (German and West German) dialects spoken throughout Switzerland. In other words, Swiss German is simply a collection of German dialects, so it’s not an official language, even though it’s widely used. 
3. Consonant sounds. Swiss German is considered a “harsher sounding” language than Standard German, and this is most apparent in consonant sounds. Instead of the compact /k/ sound you’ll hear in many German words, Swiss German uses the longer /ch/ sound. For example, Koch (chef) in Standard German is Choch in Swiss German. Numerous other examples exist, which makes it somewhat difficult for speakers of the two languages to understand each other (more on that below).
4. Intelligibility – not exactly mutual. Can Germans understand Swiss German? Let’s say a visitor from Berlin went to a Swiss German-speaking canton in Switzerland – could they just start a conversation with a local? Well, there would be some issues simply because Swiss German isn’t the same as German. Word variations, pronunciation, and context all add up – or rather subtract  – from the ability to understand the other language. While a German visitor wouldn’t be totally lost in conversation, there are enough distinctions to muddy the communication waters.
5. Verb variations. Swiss German has just a pair of verb tenses, present and past perfect. But this distinction is simplified by a steadfast rule: whenever Standard German uses the simple past tense, Swiss German takes the past participle. So, someone speaking Swiss German would say “I have been traveling,” instead of “I was traveling.”

Which Should You Learn: Swiss German or Standard German?

Learning Swiss German vs German is all about specialization vs generalization. If you’re interested in learning the more widely spoken form of the language, Standard German is for you. However, if you’re keenly interested in Swiss culture, or have plans to travel there, Swiss German would be the smart option.

The great thing about Pimsleur is that you don’t have to choose! With our All Access subscription, you’ll have immediate access to both languages, along with dozens more! But if you’re focused on acquiring just one, no problem – choose a single language with our Premium subscription!