Getting around
Tram
Prochain arrêt.
Next stop.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Geneva
Switzerland
Geneva sits at the western tip of Lake Geneva, where the Rhône leaves the water.
How the language is used
French is the official language of the canton. Swiss French has its own words for seventy and ninety, and international offices add other languages.
In this city
- Language
- French
- Also heard
- English and German
- A local word
- Septante — Seventy.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
Café
Un renversé, s'il vous plaît.
A coffee with more milk than coffee.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
Commerce
Bonjour.
Good morning.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
Rue
Septante.
Seventy.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
French is official in the canton. Swiss French keeps its own words, and you hear them in ordinary talk.
In Eaux-Vives, Pâquis, Carouge, you also hear English and German.
A first day in Geneva can run on four lines: “Prochain arrêt.”, “Un renversé, s'il vous plaît.”, “Bonjour.”, and “Septante.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Latin alphabet.
- Shops and offices often stay with vous. Tu is for people you know.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Geneva, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Septante. It means Seventy..
Places you can see
- Jet d'Eau — The tall fountain in the lake, a landmark of the harbour.
- Old Town — The hill quarter around the cathedral, above the shopping streets.
- Lake Geneva — The lake the city calls Léman, with quays and boats toward other shore towns.
Food
Lake perch fillets, longeole sausage, and cardoon dishes show up in the local French.
Getting around
Trams and buses cover the city, and boats run on the lake. Stop names are French.
Daily life
You read Swiss French, with its own words for seventy and ninety. International Geneva also works in other languages.
A few everyday phrases
French
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello |
| Merci | Thank you |
| Bonjour | Good morning |
| Je m'appelle… | My name is… |
