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| City Guide > Europe > Switzerland > Geneva |
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Language 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 dner 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 plat Thank you - Merci My name is & - Je m’appelle & How are you? - Comment a va? I’m very well - a va bien I feel ill - Je ne me sens pas bien How much does it cost? - Combien est-ce que a cote? Do you speak English? - Est-ce que vousparlez anglais? I don’t understand - Je ne comprends pas Where is &? - O est &? Entrance - Entre Exit - Sortie Danger - Danger Open - Ouvert Closed - Ferm Toilets - Toilettes Doctor - Mdecin Hotel - Htel Restaurant - Restaurant Beer - Bire 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 |