Ways to say it
| Swiss German | Note |
|---|---|
| Guete Tag | |
| Grüezi | the typical Swiss greeting, same purpose |
Guete Tag works any time from late morning into the afternoon. Many Swiss people use the even more iconic Grüezi for exactly the same purpose, especially with someone they do not know.
What does it mean word for word?
Guete Tag means 'good day', built the same way as Standard German Guten Tag but with the Swiss ending -e. Grüezi comes from an older phrase wishing God's grace on the person greeted.
Which one should you use?
Guete Tag and Grüezi are interchangeable in most situations. Grüezi feels slightly more distinctly Swiss and is what you hear most in shops, on the street and from strangers.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are polite enough for a stranger or an elder. Grüezi has a plural form, Grüezi mitenand, for greeting several people at once.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Grüezi is heard across almost all of German-speaking Switzerland, with small variations such as Grüessech in parts of Bern.
How does it change in a sentence?
Neither phrase changes for the person you are speaking to, unlike the pronoun in a question such as wie gaht's dir.
How do you pronounce it?
The z in Grüezi is pronounced like 'ts', so the word sounds roughly like 'GRUE-etsi'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using Grüezi late in the evening can sound slightly off, since by then Guete Abig is expected instead.
When do people say it?
Strangers greet each other with Grüezi when entering a small shop, a waiting room or even a lift in Switzerland, which surprises visitors from places where this is less common.
Did you know?
- Grüezi began as a wish for God's grace and is now simply a neutral, everyday greeting, much as English 'goodbye' no longer carries its old meaning of 'God be with you'.
- In Switzerland it is normal to greet strangers with Grüezi when entering a small shop or sharing a lift, a habit that often surprises foreign visitors.
Examples in context
- Grüezi, chan ich Ihne hälfe?Good day, can I help you?
- Guete Tag zäme!Good day, everyone!
- Grüezi mitenand!Good day to all of you!
Example conversation
Hans enters a bakery and is greeted by the baker, Verena.
- HansGrüezi!Good day!
- VerenaGrüezi, was dörf ichs sii?Good day, what can I get you?
- HansEs Zopf, bitte.A braided loaf, please.
- VerenaGärn, das macht vier Franke.Sure, that will be four francs.
