What Languages Do They Speak in Switzerland?
Switzerland's multilingual environment is great for international students, but exactly what languages make them such an attractive study destination?
What language do they speak in Switzerland? Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh.
While most countries have just one official language, Switzerland is unique in its multilingualism, making it a fascinating exception.
Each is spoken in different regions, making it a dream destination for international students. After all, it is #2 on the top 10 places to study abroad. Not only are university programs offered in various languages, but it also makes everyday communication easier for many.
To help you decide where to apply, let's take a closer look at the languages and the regions where they are spoken.
Navigating Switzerland's linguistic landscape
Here is what Sherry had to say about her experience as an international student surrounded by multiple languages
"Since Switzerland is located at the border of Germany and France, people there usually have a good command of several languages. However, for an international student, first, you only need good English because the courses are mostly taught in English, and my professors are all from the US."
More about the languages spoken in Switzerland
German
Swiss German is spoken in the northern, eastern, and central parts of the country by 62% of the population, making it the primary language in Switzerland.
However, you should know that Swiss German also has a range of different dialects that are no longer spoken in Germany or Austria. Therefore, it can be tricky to understand if you're used to speaking standard German. For example, the same words are used differently in Zurich, Bern, or Basel.
Regardless of dialects, German remains German, and learning it can be very beneficial for anyone seeking to travel. German is the official language of 6 countries and is spoken by over 95 million people around the world, making it an extremely useful language.
French
Swiss French is the second most popular language in Switzerland, with about 23% of the population speaking it.
It's spoken mostly in western Switzerland, covering the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Neuchâtel, and Jura. Despite the name "Swiss French", there is very little difference between the French spoken in Switzerland and the one in France.
Some say that Swiss French sounds slower due to its longer vowels, which is good news for speakers of standard French as they won't encounter any difficulties chatting with locals.
French is the official language in a large number of countries, 29 to be exact! Its 321 million speakers make French the 5th most spoken language in the world making it very useful and enticing to learn.
Italian
Swiss Italian is spoken in the canton of Ticino and the southern part of Graubünden. This part of Switzerland has a unique blend of Swiss and Italian culture.
Swiss Italian is spoken by about 8% of people in the country. German and French also influence it, so some differences might be confusing if you study or speak standard Italian. Despite these differences, Italian speakers shouldn't have trouble conversing with locals.
With 3 countries having it as their official language, there are still around 85 million Italian speakers worldwide, making it a very popular language. Like French, Italian is a Romance language and a delight to anyone passionate about languages.
Romansh
Finally, the most unique and perhaps interesting of the 4 official languages is Romansh. Only about 0.5% of Swiss residents speak it, making it the rarest of the 4. Although not very famous outside of Switzerland, Romansh is used in governance, education, and is spoken freely as a community language.
Its rarity doesn't mean its history is any less rich! Romansh can be traced back to 15 B.C., when the Romans conquered the province of Rhaetia, their language was influenced by the native people. This unusual combination gave birth to the language. Even more impressive is that Romansh survived into the 21st century!
Still spoken by about 60,000 people, Romansh is only taught in specific universities, including Fribourg, Geneva, and Zurich, where that number can still grow.
How does this translate for international students?
As an international student, you can use the multilingualism of Switzerland to your advantage.
Careerwise, numerous Swiss banks, companies, and political organizations are looking for people fluent in one of the official languages.
If you're more comfortable speaking English, that's not a problem! The Swiss are taught to be multilingual from an early age, and most are fluent in English. The language barrier can often be a student's biggest concern while studying abroad, so having such a diverse pool of languages can be very reassuring.
Conclusion
Whether you want to make sure you can speak to others or want to learn a new language altogether, Switzerland is a great place to do it. With 4 official languages, you are sure to learn plenty about cultures all over the world. And if you ever get lost on a trek in the Alps, don't worry; chances are someone can help you with a language you understand.
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This was written in collaboration with Study in Switzerland
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