Getting around
Tram
Nächster Halt.
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.
How the language is used
Standard German is the written official language, and people often speak Swiss German with one another.
In this city
- Language
- German
- Also heard
- Mostly German
- A local word
- Grüezi — Hello.
- Writing
- the Latin alphabet
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
Bäckerei
Ein Weggli, bitte.
One bread roll.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
Café
Einen Kaffee, bitte.
One coffee, please.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
Straße
Grüezi.
Hello.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
Writing, school, and the news use standard German. On the tram and in a shop you often hear Swiss German.
Around Kreis 4, Niederdorf, Aussersihl, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Zurich can run on four lines: “Nächster Halt.”, “Ein Weggli, bitte.”, “Einen Kaffee, bitte.”, and “Grüezi.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Latin alphabet.
- With friends you hear du. With strangers and in offices, Sie is still normal.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Zurich, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: Grüezi. It means Hello..
Places you can see
- Grossmünster — A Romanesque church with twin towers above the Limmat, tied to the Reformation in Zurich.
- Lake Zurich — A long lake at the south end of the centre, with boats and a promenade.
- Lindenhof — A shaded hilltop square above the old town, on the site of the Roman fort.
Food
Bakeries sell Zopf, and restaurants serve sliced veal in the Zurich style with potatoes.
Getting around
Trams, buses, and lake boats connect the centre with the lakeshore.
Daily life
You step off a lake boat onto a tram and stay inside the city the whole way.
A few everyday phrases
German
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hallo | Hello |
| Danke | Thank you |
| Guten Morgen | Good morning |
| Ich heiße… | My name is… |
