Answer the question What is the official language of your country is easy in most places in the world. But if you ask someone from Switzerland, well, things get a little complicated. This is where counting and explaining come in. Switzerland is renowned for its first-class quality of life, perfect infrastructure and environmentally friendly outlook. It is also number 5 in the top 10 places to study abroad in the world this year. The key to the success and harmony of Switzerland could lie in the level of diversity of this country. After all, the country has four official languages. Not one, not two – four! The four official languages are German, French, Italian and Romansh. Each of them is spoken in different regions.
This makes it a dream for any international student! Not only are the university programs offered in several languages, but it facilitates day-to-day communication. Four Country Email List times easier, you might say! Let's take a closer look at the languages and the regions in which they are spoken. Find a program Want to study in Switzerland? Find and compare programs Learn more German Swiss German is spoken in the north, east and center of the country and is spoken by 63% of the population, making it the main language in Switzerland. Its speakers call it Dialekt, Mundart or simply Dütsch.
However if you decide to study in one of the German speaking Swiss cantons be aware that this language also has a range of different dialects. Therefore, it can be quite difficult to understand if you are used to speaking standard German. But don't be discouraged! Standard German is still used for official correspondence, in books and in newspapers, which makes things a little easier. Swiss German, on the other hand, is a set of Alemannic dialects that are no longer spoken in Germany or Austria, interspersed with numerous French expressions. The German Swiss are proud of the diversity of their dialects. You will find the same words used differently in Zurich, Bern or Basel.