Ways to say it
| Swiss German | Note |
|---|---|
| Bitte | |
| bitte schön | a bit more emphatic |
Bitte is added to a request the same way as in Standard German, either at the start, the end or standing alone. bitte schön adds a little more warmth, often used when handing something to someone.
What does it mean word for word?
Bitte comes from the verb bitten, 'to ask' or 'to request'.
Which one should you use?
Bitte alone fits almost any request. bitte schön is slightly warmer, for example when a waiter brings a plate.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Bitte is used the same way with friends and strangers. What changes with formality is the rest of the sentence, for example chasch mer bitte hälfe to a friend versus chönd Sie mer bitte hälfe to someone formal.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Bitte is the same across all German-speaking Swiss regions, since it comes from Standard German rather than being a dialect word.
How does it change in a sentence?
Bitte also means 'you are welcome' as a reply to thanks, and 'pardon' when you did not hear something, so the same word covers three everyday uses.
How do you pronounce it?
The tt in Bitte is a crisp, short double consonant, pronounced much as in Standard German.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Forgetting Bitte in a request is not as pointed as it might be in English, but adding it still makes a request sound noticeably more polite.
Did you know?
- Bitte does triple duty in Swiss German, meaning 'please', 'you are welcome' and 'pardon', depending on when it is said.
- Unlike many dialect words, Bitte is spelled the same in Swiss German as in Standard German, since it was never affected by the usual Swiss vowel shifts.
Examples in context
- Chönd Sie mer bitte hälfe?Could you please help me?
- Ich hätt gern en Kafi, bitte.I would like a coffee, please.
- Bitte, nach Ihne.Please, after you.
Example conversation
A tourist, Anna, asks a local, Beat, for directions in Zürich.
- AnnaChönd Sie mer bitte säge, wo der Bahnhof isch?Could you please tell me where the station is?
- BeatKlar, grad da vorne links.Sure, just up ahead on the left.
- AnnaMerci vielmal.Thank you very much.
- BeatGärn gscheh, viel Spass!You are welcome, have fun!
