Numbers
The biggest difference is in the numbers. Swiss French uses simpler words for 70 and 90.
- septante70. Used instead of soixante-dix
- nonante90. Used instead of quatre-vingt-dix
- huitante80. Used in Vaud, Valais and Fribourg. Geneva mostly says quatre-vingts
Meals
In Switzerland, as in Belgium and Quebec, dîner usually means lunch and souper means dinner. Déjeuner is breakfast, although petit-déjeuner is also used. If a colleague invites you to dîner at noon, that is lunch.
Everyday words
You will hear these in shops, offices and at home. It helps to recognise them, and using them is optional.
- natela mobile phone. An older Swiss word. Portable is also used
- corneta bag. A paper or plastic bag from a shop
- se parquerto park a car. Used instead of se garer
- poutzerto clean. From the German putzen
- panossea floor cloth. Common in Geneva and Vaud
- serviceyou are welcome. Said in reply to merci
On your paperwork
Official letters and contracts have their own vocabulary: régie, bail, caisse maladie and OCPM. See French for settling in Geneva for what they mean and phrases to use with them.
Learn it in your lessons
I grew up in Geneva, so these words are part of how I speak. In a lesson we mix standard French with the Swiss words you will meet, so you understand both.