Ways to say it
| Swiss German | Note |
|---|---|
| min Schatz | |
| mis Herzli | literally my little heart |
min Schatz is the everyday pet name for a partner, used by and for both men and women. mis Herzli is softer and more playful, often used with children too.
What does it mean word for word?
Schatz literally means 'treasure'. Herzli adds the diminutive ending -li to Herz, 'heart', giving 'little heart'.
Which one should you use?
min Schatz is the standard, widely used term. mis Herzli sounds extra tender and is common between parents and small children as well as between partners.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are informal and private, used only in a close relationship.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Pet names like these are used the same way across German-speaking Switzerland, with only small variation in pronunciation.
How does it change in a sentence?
min is the possessive 'my' before a masculine word, so it stays min Schatz whether the partner is a man or a woman, because Schatz itself is grammatically masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
The a in Schatz is short and sharp, and the tz at the end is a single crisp sound.
What mistakes should you avoid?
min Schatz does not change to mini Schatz for a female partner, since the grammatical gender of the noun Schatz stays the same either way.
Did you know?
- Schatz, literally 'treasure', is grammatically masculine in German, which is why min Schatz never changes even when speaking to a woman.
- The diminutive ending -li in Herzli is one of the most common ways Swiss German builds affectionate or small-sounding words.
Examples in context
- Chumm, min Schatz, mir gönd.Come on, my love, let's go.
- Guet gschlafe, min Schatz?Did you sleep well, my love?
- Danke, mis Herzli.Thank you, my love.
Example conversation
Flurina calls her partner Noah to ask when he is coming home.
- FlurinaHoi min Schatz, wo bisch?Hi my love, where are you?
- NoahBin grad ufem Weg hei.I am just on my way home.
- FlurinaSuper, s Znacht isch fast fertig.Great, dinner is almost ready.
- NoahPerfekt, bin i zää Minute da.Perfect, I'll be there in ten minutes.
