Swiss German survival lingo
The words you’ll meet in your first months: on letters, signs, forms and at the Badi.
Locals speak Swiss German, but letters, signs and forms use standard German, so you’ll meet both. Words marked (CH) are Swiss German.
Admin and paperwork
Kanton
State: Switzerland has 26. Sets your tax rates, schools and permit office.
Gemeinde
Municipality. Where you live, pay tax and register.
Kreis
City district. “I live in Kreis 4” is how people in Zürich describe areas.
Personenmeldeamt / Einwohneramt
Residents’ registration office (in Zürich, formerly the Kreisbüro).
In Zürich city: within 14 days of moving in, register at the Personenmeldeamt. Coming from abroad, you need an appointment. Source: Stadt Zürich: moving to the city (German). Checked 21 October 2026.
In Zürich city: CHF 40 registration fee for each adult. Source: Stadt Zürich: moving to the city (German). Checked 21 October 2026.
Anmeldung / Abmeldung
Registering / deregistering. Needed when you arrive and when you leave.
Ausweis / Bewilligung
Residence permit (B, C, L, G). Your permit decides what you can do.
AHV-Nummer
Social security number. On every payslip, pension and insurance form.
Krankenkasse
Health insurer.
Within three months of taking up residence: everyone settling here must take out basic health insurance. Source: Federal Office of Public Health (BAG): the requirement to take out insurance. Checked 21 October 2026.
Franchise
Health insurance deductible. Higher means a cheaper premium but more out of pocket.
Steuererklärung
Tax return. Whether you file one, are taxed at source, or both depends on your permit, income and canton.
Quellensteuer
Tax at source, deducted from salary. Your canton’s tax office says whether it applies to you.
Serafe
The radio and TV fee. The bill arrives by post after you register.
CHF 335 a year for each private household. Source: Federal Office of Communications (BAKOM): amount of the fee and billing (German). Checked 21 October 2026.
Betreibung
Debt collection. A record here hurts flat applications, so pay on time.
Getting around
HB (Hauptbahnhof)
Main station. In Zürich, “meet at HB” means Zürich main station.
SBB
Swiss Federal Railways. Their app is your timetable and ticket wallet.
ZVV
Zürich’s transport network. Trams, buses, S-Bahn and boats, priced by zone.
GA
Annual pass for all public transport. Worth it for heavy commuters.
Halbtax
Half-fare card. Halves most fares; usually the first card to buy.
S-Bahn
Suburban train. Lines are named S2, S8 and so on.
Gleis
Platform. Shown on your ticket and the departure board.
Billett
Ticket. Travelling without a valid one means a surcharge on the spot.
Velo
Bicycle. Bike lanes are everywhere; ring the bell.
Vignette
Motorway sticker, also sold as an e-vignette. Required on motorways.
CHF 40, the same for the sticker and the e-vignette. Source: Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG): the e-vignette. Checked 21 October 2026.
Home and housing
Wohnung
Flat. Listed by rooms: “3.5 Zimmer” is usually two bedrooms plus a living room.
Nebenkosten (NK)
Service charges for heating, water and shared areas. Check if they’re included.
Kaution / Mietzinsdepot
Rental deposit.
At most three months’ rent for a home. Paid in cash or securities, the landlord must put it in a bank savings account or deposit in the tenant’s name. Source: Fedlex: Code of Obligations, Art. 257e (German). Checked 21 October 2026.
Besichtigung
Viewing. Often crowded; bring your application dossier.
Betreibungsauszug
Debt-record extract. Landlords ask for it; order it from the Betreibungsamt.
Verwaltung
Property manager. Usually who you deal with, not the owner.
Hauswart
Caretaker. Fixes things and enforces house rules.
Waschküche
Shared laundry room. Booked by rota; respect your slot.
Hausordnung
House rules, including night and Sunday quiet hours.
Züri-Sack
Official Zürich rubbish bag. Only these get collected; sold at Coop and Migros.
Altpapier / Karton
Paper / cardboard collection. Tied in bundles, put out on set days.
Family and kids
Kita
Daycare. Waiting lists are long, so join early.
In Zürich city: CHF 120 a day is the most parents pay for a subsidised Kita place. Source: Stadt Zürich: childcare costs, worked examples (German). Checked 21 October 2026.
Chindsgi (CH)
Kindergarten. Free, and at your local school.
In Kanton Zürich: at four: every child who is four on 31 July starts kindergarten that school year, in mid-August. It lasts two years and is compulsory. Source: Kanton Zürich: kindergarten (German). Checked 21 October 2026.
Primarschule
Primary school, assigned by your address.
Hort
After-school care for afternoons and school holidays.
Mittagstisch
School lunch club; otherwise children often go home at lunch.
Elternabend
Parents’ evening. Attendance is expected.
Kinderzulage
Child allowance, usually paid with your salary. Ask HR how to claim it.
Gotti / Götti (CH)
Godmother / godfather.
Everyday life
Badi (CH)
Outdoor pool or lake bath. Summer social life happens here.
Migros / Coop
The two big supermarkets. Migros supermarkets don’t sell alcohol.
Denner / Aldi / Lidl
Discount supermarkets.
Ladenschluss
Shop closing time. Most shops close in the evening and on Sundays; stations stay open.
Feierabend
End of the working day. A “Feierabend-Bier” is an after-work drink.
Znüni / Zvieri (CH)
Morning / afternoon snack. Children bring a Znüni to school.
Apéro
Drinks and nibbles. Work events end with one; stay for it.
Twint
Swiss payment app, used everywhere, including splitting bills.
Gemeindeversammlung
Town meeting where residents vote on local budgets in smaller Gemeinden. Zürich city has a parliament instead.
Abstimmung
Popular vote, held several times a year. Federal votes are for Swiss citizens, but the results shape daily life.
Say it like a local
Grüezi (CH)
Hello (formal). Shops, neighbours, hiking trails. Always greet.
Grüezi mitenand (CH)
Hello everyone. Entering a lift, waiting room or small shop.
Hoi / Sali (CH)
Hi, for friends and first-name colleagues.
Merci (vielmal)
Thanks (very much). Used far more than “Danke”.
Ade / Tschüss / Ciao
Bye. Ade is polite, Ciao is casual.
En Guete (CH)
Enjoy your meal. Said before eating, even with colleagues.
Pröscht (CH)
Cheers. Clink every glass and make eye contact.
Uf Wiederluege (CH)
Goodbye (formal), leaving a shop or appointment.
Gäll? (CH)
Right? Tagged onto sentences.
Exgüsi (CH)
Excuse me / sorry: getting past someone on the tram.
- What this is
- A short glossary of the words newcomers meet first: admin, getting around, home, family, everyday life, and what to say at the bakery counter.
- Why it matters
- A letter, a viewing or a parents’ evening is far less of a puzzle when you know the half-dozen words it turns on. And a Grüezi at the right moment goes a long way.
- Who needs it
- Everyone in the household, and whoever opens the post.
- When to do it
- Before you fly, and again once the first letters arrive.
Official source
On your plan
Learn the local language that works for your life
Counter language and playground language are different.
Register at your commune
One of the first official steps. There is a time limit.
Learn the house rules nobody tells you
Quiet times, laundry, recycling, Sundays.
settlein is a guidance tool, not a lawyer, tax adviser, insurer or public office. Where we have not verified a figure against an official source, we leave it blank.