Zurich Dialect for Beginners
A short list with the most important words and phrases in “Züritüütsch”.
With this list, you will hardly attain the level of a real “Zürischnure”, as Zurich dialect speakers – who talk fast and rather loudly – are known. But you are sure to score some sympathy points by using one or the other of these words or phrases when you are out shopping or ordering food:
| Züritüütsch | English |
|---|---|
| Adie | goodbye |
| Anke | butter |
| äxgüsi | sorry/excuse me |
| Badi | swimming baths/lido |
| Binätsch | spinach |
| bitte, pitti, gfelig | please |
| Bölle | onion |
| Böllewèèä | onion tart |
| Böögg | bogeyman, snowman effigy that is burned at Sechsenläuten |
| es birebitzeli | a tiny bit/amount |
| es bitzeli | a little (bit) |
| Flätterä | slap in the face |
| gäll, gälletsi | Isn't that right? |
| Galööri | idiot, jerk |
| gèèrn | Yes please |
| Grossmöischter, Grossmünschter | Grossmünster |
| Grüezi, salü, tschau | good day |
| Guete Morge | good morning |
| habere | eat, have a snack |
| Hitzgi | hiccoughs |
| Hoi, hallo | hallo, hi |
| Hüchlerbäse | bouquet of flowers |
| hudle | to rain heavily |
| lässig | awesome, great, cool |
| Mittagässe | lunch |
| Münz | (small) change/loose cash |
| Naabig, guetenaabig | good evening |
| Pfnüsel | to have a cold |
| Plagööri | a show-off |
| schampar | very |
| Schnägg | 5 franc coin |
| schuurig | very, extremely |
| tanke, mèrssi | thank you |
| tuttswitt | immediately |
| Velo | bicycle |
| Weggli | a round, flat bread roll |
| Zmorge | breakfast |
| zmörgele | to have brunch |
| Znacht, Zaabig, Aabigässe | evening meal, dinner |
| Zouft | guild house |
| Züri-Gschnätzlets | Zürich Geschnetzeltes (local specialty made from veal strips in mushroom sauce) |
