Swiss German (Schwyzerdütsch)

Swiss German is spoken by about 4.5 million people mainly in Switzerland, and also in Piedmont and Aosta Valley in northern Italy, and in Liechtenstein and in the Vorarlberg region of Austria. Swiss German belongs to the Alemannic subgroup of West Germanic languages.

Swiss German is used in speech in most formal and informal contexts in German-speaking parts of Switzerland. There is significant regional variation, and Swiss German differs markedly from varieties of German spoken in Germany and Austria. The main written language used in German-speaking parts of Switzerland is Standard German (Hochdeutsch) or Deutsche Schriftsprache (written German), but Swiss German is used to some extent in novels, newspapers, personal letters and diaries.

Swiss German pronunciation

Sample text in Swiss German (Lucerne dialect)

Alli Mönshe send frey ond geboore met gliicher Wörd ond gliiche Rächt. Si send xägnet met Vernonft ond Gwösse ond sölled enand e brüederlechem Gäisht begägne.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

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