Ways to say it
| Swiss German | Note |
|---|---|
| En guete Rutsch | |
| Es guets Neus Jahr | more formal |
A more formal, direct version, Es guets Neus Jahr, 'a good new year', is also used, especially in writing or with someone you do not know well.
What does it mean word for word?
En guete Rutsch literally means 'a good slide', picturing the slide from one year into the next. Es guets Neus Jahr translates the wish word for word.
Which one should you use?
En guete Rutsch is the warmer, more idiomatic wish, said before the new year arrives. Es guets Neus Jahr is plainer and can be said on the day itself too.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
En guete Rutsch is casual and widely used with friends, family and colleagues alike. Es guets Neus Jahr fits a slightly more formal card or message.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The idiom Rutsch, 'slide', for the new year is shared with Standard German, though the Swiss pronunciation and surrounding words are distinct.
How does it change in a sentence?
Neither phrase changes with the person being addressed.
How do you pronounce it?
Rutsch is a short, crisp word, with the u sounding close to the oo in 'book'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Saying En guete Rutsch after midnight on New Year's Eve sounds odd, since the 'slide' into the new year has already happened. Use Es guets Neus Jahr instead once the year has turned.
When do people say it?
Swiss New Year's wishes are often exchanged well before December 31st, since many people spend the actual evening with family rather than making calls.
Did you know?
- Rutsch, 'slide', pictures the new year as something you slide into, an image shared with Standard German but said with Swiss sounds.
- Because many Swiss families celebrate quietly at home, new year wishes are often exchanged days before the actual evening.
Examples in context
- En guete Rutsch ins neue Jahr!Happy new year, have a good slide into it!
- Ich wünsch dir es guets Neus Jahr.I wish you a good new year.
- Mir gseh üs im neue Jahr wieder.We will see each other again in the new year.
Example conversation
Elias calls his grandmother Frieda on December 30th before the new year.
- EliasEn guete Rutsch, Grosi!Happy new year, Grandma!
- FriedaMerci, der au en guete Rutsch.Thanks, happy new year to you too.
- EliasWas machsch am Silvester?What are you doing on New Year’s Eve?
- FriedaIch bliib dihei und schau Feuerwerk.I am staying home and watching fireworks.
