Schweiz
/ʃvaɪ̯ts/feminine
The English phrase "Switzerland" is Schweiz in German.
Schweiz is the official name of the country in German.
Meaning: sovereign country (name)
How does it change in a sentence?
Schweiz is a feminine noun. Unlike in English, German requires the use of a definite article with this name. When used in a sentence, you must use the article die (or der in the dative or genitive cases) because German does not use the name alone without an article. To use "Swiss" as an adjective, such as in "Swiss chocolate", you use the form Schweizer.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃvaɪ̯ts/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly omit the definite article and say in Schweiz instead of the correct in der Schweiz.
Did you know?
- The name Schweiz actually comes from the name of a single, small canton called Schwyz.
- The official name of the state is Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft, which translates to 'Swiss Confederation'.
- While Schweiz is used in German, the country is officially multilingual and is called Suisse in French and Svizzera in Italian.
Examples in context
- Sie stammt aus der Schweiz.She comes from Switzerland.This sentence is useful for describing someone's origin using Schweiz.Tatoeba #5261920 by Sudajaengi, translation #8836784 by sundown
- Ihr Onkel lebt in der Schweiz.Her uncle lives in Switzerland.This sentence is useful for describing where someone lives using Schweiz.Tatoeba #7160722 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2276713 by Hybrid
- Er ist bereits in der Schweiz.He has already gone to Switzerland.This sentence is useful for describing someone's current location using Schweiz.Tatoeba #10106637 by wolfgangth, translation #7767151 by sharris123
- Die Schweiz ist für ihre atemberaubende Landschaft bekannt.Switzerland is known for its breathtaking landscapes.
- 119 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Laura are talking about their upcoming vacation.
- JulianMöchtest du in die Schweiz reisen?Would you like to travel to Switzerland?
- LauraJa, ich liebe die Schweiz.Yes, I love Switzerland.
- JulianWir können nächste Woche nach Bern fliegen.We can fly to Bern next week.
- LauraDas ist ein toller Plan, Julian.That is a great plan, Julian.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “switzerland” translations and entries Schweiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Schweiz, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
