

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. Swiss Italian is the language spoken in the canton of Ticino and the southern part of Graubünden (Canton Grigioni). Another advantage for French speakers is that the popular travel destinations, such as Lausanne and Geneva, are entirely French-speaking. 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. Some do claim that Swiss French sounds slower, due to its longer vowels.

Despite the name, there is very little difference between the French spoken in Switzerland and that spoken in France. It is spoken mostly in western Switzerland, covering the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, and Jura. Swiss French is the second most popular language in Switzerland. If you're thinking of studying in one of the German speaking cantons, check out these other interesting facts about Swiss German. Again, no need to worry, when in doubt, politely ask for clarification! You’ll find the same words being used differently in Zurich, Bern, or Basel. The Swiss Germans take pride in the diversity of their dialects. 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. Therefore, it can be rather tricky to understand if you are used to speaking standard German.īut 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. 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. Its speakers refer to it as Dialekt, Mundart, or just Dütsch. 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. Want to study in Switzerland? Find & compare programs
