Geneva belongs to la Suisse romande (French-speaking Switzerland). While French is the official language, English, German, Italian and Spanish are widely spoken. English is the official language of most multinational companies and international groups based in Geneva, where nearly 100,000 English speakers are based. Nevertheless, attempts to speak French are appreciated by the locals. The Genevois tend to speak relatively slowly, with a lilting accent. Differences from standard French in grammar and vocabulary are particularly accentuated in the spoken language. Numbers are slightly different, as well: seventy (soixante-dix in standard French) is septante in Swiss French; ninety (quatre-vingt dix in standard French) is nonante in Swiss French. In Geneva, the verb dîner means to eat lunch and not dinner. The national languages in Switzerland are German (70%), French (19%), Italian (10%) and Romansch (1%).

Phrases

Yes - Oui

No - Non

Hello - Bonjour

Goodbye - Au revoir

Please - S’il vous plaît

Thank you - Merci

My name is ... - Je m’appelle ...

How are you? - Comment ca va?

I’m very well - Ca va bien

I feel ill - Je ne me sens pas bien

How much does it cost? - Combien est-ce que ça coûte?

Do you speak English? - Est-ce que vous parlez anglais?

I don’t understand - Je ne comprends pas

Where is ...? - Ou est ...?

Entrance - Entree

Exit - Sortie

Danger - Danger

Open - Ouvert

Closed - Ferme

Toilets - Toilettes

Doctor - Medecin

Hotel - Hotel

Restaurant - Restaurant

Beer - Bière

Wine - Vin

Menu - Menu

Today - Aujourd’hui

Tomorrow - Demain

Monday - Lundi

Tuesday - Mardi

Wednesday - Mercredi

Thursday - Jeudi

Friday - Vendredi

Saturday - Samedi

Sunday - Dimanche

One - Un (Une)

Two - Deux

Three - Trois

Four - Quatre

Five - Cinq

Six - Six

Seven - Sept

Eight - Huit

Nine - Neuf

Ten - Dix

Twenty - Vingt

Thirty - Trente

Forty - Quarante

Fifty - Cinquante

Sixty - Soixante

Seventy - Septante

Eighty - Quatre-vingt

Ninety - Nonante

One Hundred - Cent

One Thousand - Mille