Europe · CH

Switzerland

Home to 5 dialects represented on Dialect Atlas, spanning 4 language families.

German dialects in Switzerland

Hochdeutsch

also: Standard German, Standard High German, Schriftdeutsch

The codified standard variety of German used in education, media, and administration across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Based on the High German consonant shift and a written norm dating to Luther; the spoken standard is conventionally associated with the Hanover region of Lower Saxony.

Schwyzerdütsch

also: Swiss German, Schweizerdeutsch

A cluster of High Alemannic varieties spoken across German-speaking Switzerland. Mutually unintelligible with Standard German for most non-Swiss listeners.

French dialects in Switzerland

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Swiss French

also: Romand French, Suisse romand

The French of western Switzerland. Like Belgian French, retains older numerals (septante, huitante, nonante) and shows long contact with German-Swiss varieties.

Italian dialects in Switzerland

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Lombard

also: Lombardo

The Gallo-Italic variety of Lombardy and Italian-speaking Switzerland. Internally split between Western (Milan) and Eastern (Bergamo) groupings.

Romansh dialects in Switzerland

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Romansh

also: Rumantsch

A Rhaeto-Romance language and the fourth official language of Switzerland, spoken across the canton of Graubünden. Around 60,000 speakers; the federal standard (Rumantsch Grischun) bridges five regional varieties.