I am amazed that it has taken me this long to write about greetings in Swiss, but to be honest, it has taken me this whole time to master them myself. Then again, who am I kidding, I am still a long way from mastery. It is tricky when you go from a country where "Hello, how are you?" is fine for anytime of day to one with multiple greetings to master!

Nonetheless, here are a few greetings to work on to get on with the Swiss (note: because of all the different Swiss German dialects and phrases, I can only comment on greetings around Zurich). As you will see, they seem to have something for every opportunity:

Gruetzi or sometimes Gruetzi Wohl
Pronunciation: [Grew-tzee], [Grew-zee-vohll]
• Meaning: Greetings! Hello!
• Best time to use: Anytime. Use this to greet people in person, over the phone, personally or impersonally - meaning you can use it with those you know well as well as those you don't.
• Answer (if someone says this to you... you should answer…): "Gruetzi!" (Or as below if there is more than one person!)

Gruetzi Miteinander
• Pronuncation: [Grew-tzee Mit-ein-an-der]
• Meaning: Greetings to you both! Hello you two!
• Best time to use: The only difference between this and “Gruetzi” above is that you use "Miteinander" when you are greeting a group of two or more people... because obviously you would not want them to think that you are leaving anyone out!
• Answer: "Gruetzi" of "Gruetzi Miteinand"

Guten Abig or Guten Abig Zusammen/Miteinander
• Pronunciation: [Goo-ten Ah-big] or [Goo-ten Ah-big Ztoo-tsah-men]
• Meaning: Good evening! or with “Zaeme” or “Miteinander”, it is Good evening to you both
• Best time to use: At night silly, or in the evening, to say good evening!
• Answer: "Guten Abig" or simply "Abig"... or add the "Zaeme" or "Miteinand" if there is more than one person... getting the hang of that yet?

An Guete or just Guete
• Pronunciation: [An-goit-eh] (it is funny because to remember this I think of the word 'goiter', he he, hopefully that helps you too! It is said like that word but without the 'r' sound)
• Meaning: Bon Appetite! or the Swiss form of Guten Appetit!
• Best time to use: The Swiss use this a lot and it always throws me for a loop because I am not expecting it usually. If it is lunch time, people will greet each other with this, and they most definitely say this when you sit down to eat! It is not nearly as prolific as "Malzeit" in Austria or Bavaria, but you will definitely hear it in the cantine!
• Answer: "An Guete!" or simply "Guete"

Adieu. Schönes Wochenende.
• Pronunciation: [Ad-deh. Sshueh-ness Wo-cken-end-eh]
• Meaning: Bye! Have a nice weekend!
• Best time to use: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or anytime you are leaving someone before seeing them again for a week... I think, but probably not on Monday!
• Answer: "Merci Gleichwals." This means, "Thank you! Likewise!" and I use it all the time at the grocery store. :) It is pronounced [Mer-ci Gleechk-walls]

Auf Wiederhoren
• Pronunciation: [Aouf Vee-der-hor-en or Oof Weidehöra]
• Meaning: Till we hear from each other again. Till next time.
• Best time to use: When you are about to hang up the phone. You can say "Auf Widersehen" if you see them at that moment, but if you cannot see them (say, they are on the phone), you use this! Genius.
• Answer: "Auf Wiederhoren. Adieu."
If I have missed any, please let me know. Good luck getting around with these greetings in and around Zurich, Switzerland!

Text and photos by Jessica Cartwright