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Swiss FrenchEnglish

Translate Swiss French to English the way locals mean it.

Swiss French uses forms such as septante, huitante and nonante, along with words like natel and action, while familiar softeners can make a message mean something less literal in English.

Going the other way? English to Swiss French

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474 local dialects

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What locals actually say

Tu me redis pour demain, si jamais ?

Can you let me know about tomorrow?
Si jamais often softens a request and means “if you get a chance” or “just to be safe,” not “if ever.”

On se voit tout bientôt, alors ?

So, shall we see each other very soon?
Tout bientôt is a common Swiss French way to say “very soon,” with tout intensifying bientôt rather than referring to everything.

Les fraises sont en action à huitante centimes.

The strawberries are on special at 80 centimes.
En action means “on promotion” in Swiss usage, while huitante is the local form of “eighty.”

Après le giratoire, tu prends à gauche vers le village.

After the roundabout, turn left toward the village.
Giratoire is the usual Swiss French word for roundabout, signaling Swiss regional vocabulary.

On fête les huitante ans de grand-maman dimanche.

We’re celebrating Grandma’s eightieth birthday on Sunday.
Huitante is the Swiss French form for eighty, especially common in Vaud, Valais, and Fribourg.

Je te donne réponse d’ici vendredi.

I’ll get back to you by Friday.
Donner réponse, often without an article, is a Swiss French workplace formula signaling a measured professional register.

La bise souffle fort aujourd’hui.

That cold northeasterly wind is really blowing today.
Bise names the cold northeasterly wind associated with the Swiss Plateau, signaling a specifically Swiss weather reference.

J’ai de la peine à me concentrer aujourd’hui.

I’m having trouble concentrating today.
Avoir de la peine à is a Swiss French construction meaning to have difficulty doing something, rather than the more general avoir du mal à.

Notes like these come with every AIRTranslate translation, so you learn why locals phrase it that way as you go.

How Swiss French differs

Swiss French. Septante, huitante (Vaud/Valais/Fribourg), nonante; natel for mobile phone, action for special offer; measured polite register.

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