Dialect struggles nobody talks about

Swiss German is a spoken language first and foremost, shaped by dialect and regional differences. From the absence of autocorrect to the liberal sprinkling of diminutives, communicating in Swiss German comes with some hard struggles that need talking about, gäll?

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

00:00 - Intro

01:27 - Listener feedback

04:30 - Topic of the day: The unspoken Swiss German troubles

14:19 - Swiss bytes:

• The DOGG on a ‘Füdlerutscher’

16:12 - Learning Swiss German:

• Grüppelä

19:34 - Listener poll

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Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic suggestions: Write us an email to [email protected], a text message or a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66.

Switzerland's handcrafted delights for children

In this episode we talk about some traditional Swiss toys that are not only fun to play with, but have also withstood the scrutiny of different generations of children and even make great souvenirs. 

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

00:00 - Intro

01:22 - Listener messages

08:24 - Traditional Swiss toys:

• Toy bob
• Bum sledge
• Cow
• Cable car

15:36 - Swiss bytes:

• Find people with the same name in Switzerland

19:01 - Learning Swiss German:

• Chrüsimüsi

21:24 - Listener poll

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Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic suggestions: Write us an email to [email protected], a text message or a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66.

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The unspoken rule of giving a tour of your home when guests come over

When guests visit where you live in Switzerland, the host almost always offers them a look around. In this episode, we talk about this unspoken rule in Switzerland and why it led to some confusion in our home.

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

00:00 - Intro

01:22 - Listener messages

08:24 - What to do if you have visitors over for the first time

• Guest slippers

15:36 - Swiss bytes:

• Snacketti
• Aromat Zweifel Chips

19:01 - Learning Swiss German: 

• äs het solangs het
• der schnäller isch der gschwinder

21:24 - Listener poll

• Our episode where we talk about Aromat: Six things you’ll find in a Swiss kitchen (and what’s missing!)

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Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic suggestions: Write us an email to [email protected], a text message or a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66.

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Switzerland's weekend mountain ritual

Why do the Swiss regularly abandon foggy cities for the mountains? That’s the question we get into in this episode. Beyond this beloved autumn and winter weekend pastime, we take a look at your messages, our latest poll results, Swiss bytes, and we even pack in a fresh “Learning Swiss German” segment.

We’d love to hear from you!
Send your feedback, questions, or voice messages to [email protected].

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

00:00 - Intro

01:34 - Listener messages

• How to find a job in Switzerland as an expat
• Find us on Instagram (Swiss and Chips, Jo, Simon) or Bluesky Jo and Simon

07:54 - Why do Swiss locals go to the mountains when the weather is gray

• Apfelfunk (a Swiss and German podcast about Apple)

13:15 - Listener poll: For how long would you travel to see the sun?

15:32 - Swiss bytes: 

• Swiss Podcast Network
• Swiss Podcasts in English from Swissinfo

17:20 - Learning Swiss German: “Rumpelsurig”

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Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic suggestions: Write us an email to [email protected], a text message or a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66.

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What acceptance looks like amongst the Swiss

Moving to Switzerland as an expat is definitely challenging and it can feel hard to be accepted. But what does being accepted really mean anyway? In this very personal episode, Jo talks about what fitting in means to her and we discuss integration from a very Swiss perspective, including their ongoing interest in expats. 

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

00:00 - Intro

01:32 - Listener Feedback

• The Ministry for the Future

09:01 - Do you feel accepted as an expat in Switzerland?

19:13 - Swiss bytes: Expat Series

• Part 1 (the recruiting)
• Part 2 (two portraits)
• Part 3 (finding a place to stay)
• Part 4 (the integration)

20:40 - Learning Swiss German: Glüschtelä

24:43 - Listener poll: Which is your favourite season of the year

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Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic suggestions: Write us an email to [email protected], a text message or a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66.

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In this episode of Swiss and Chips - Your British Guide to Switzerland, it's all about our listeners’ voices. We asked what annoys you about Switzerland or what you would change, and you replied!

From the pain of exchange rates to supermarket stress (again), Mexican food and laundry room drama (again). Also, don’t forget to vote in our listener poll.

Feedback, questions or topic suggestions? Drop us a line to [email protected]! 

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

00:00 - Intro

01:29 - Listener Feedback

• Muottas Muragl funicular

05:32 - The one thing to change in Switzerland

11:35 - Swiss bytes: Do you feel accepted as a non-EU immigrant?

13:46 - Learning Swiss German: Gutsch

18:07 - Listener poll: Do you feel accepted as an immigrant in Switzerland?

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Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic suggestions: Write us an email to [email protected], a text message or a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66.

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Other ways to subscribe

There is no listener poll this week, but a listener survey: What's the one thing you would change about Switzerland if you could?

Send us an audio message or text to +41 76 282 67 66 or email [email protected].

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

00:00 - Intro

01:08 - Listener Feedback

• Niesenbahn, the longest stairs in the world
• Marzili-Bahn, the shortest one in Switzerland

08:32 - 1st August badge 2025

• 1.-August-Abzeichen 2025
• Swiss bytes: Send us your suggestion to [email protected]

15:49 - Learning Swiss German: Tönder (or Thunder)

19:38 - Listener survey: Send us the one thing you would change about Switzerland as an audio message or text to +41 76 282 67 66 or email [email protected].

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Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic suggestions: Write us an email to [email protected], a text message or a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66.

Subscribe to the free newsletter

...
Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

There is no listener poll this week, but a listener survey: What's the one thing you would change about Switzerland if you could?

Send us an audio message or text to +41 76 282 67 66 or email [email protected].

Notes on this episode

00:00 - Intro

01:09 - Listener Feedback

09:40 - Coming to a restaurant, be ready to order

16:20 - Swiss bytes: As an expat, if you could change only one thing about Switzerland (Reddit)

21:37 - Learning Swiss German: Gaffi Crème (or Thé Crème)

25:27 - Listener survey: Send us the one thing you would change about Switzerland as an audio or text message to +41 76 282 67 66 or to [email protected]

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Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic suggestions: Write us an email to [email protected], a text message or a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66.

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Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe

Let the sunshine (and fresh air) in! 

In this episode we talk about the Swiss ritual that plays out daily in homes, offices, and schools across the country: Lüften. It’s the practice of throwing windows open wide and letting fresh air circulate through rooms and buildings. But why is Lüften so important to the Swiss mindset? As always, we’ll give you some insights, but mostly personal experiences of living with the fresh air in Switzerland.

00:00 - Intro

01:50 - Listener Feedback

07:08 - To lüft or not to lüft

• "Korrektes Lüften" BAG
• Differences between summer and winter
• Swiss lüfting "rules"

15:26 - Swiss bytes

• Federal Statistical Office

17:36 - Learning Swiss German: Dürzug

20:22 - Listener poll

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Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic suggestions: Write us an email to [email protected], a text message or a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66.

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Not everything is as glossy as it seems

Many thanks to all the listeners who reach out to us! Today’s episode is for you. If you have questions or thoughts you want to share with us and the other listeners, let us know!

In this episode, we talk specifically about Jonathan’s feedback and his experiences of visiting Switzerland. It inspired us to talk about some other surprises and controversial aspects of ordinary life in Switzerland. 

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

00:00 - Introduction to this episode

00:58 - Listener feedback

02:12 - Swiss Controversies

14:55 - Swiss Bytes: Ali on Switzerland

17:25 - Learning Swiss German: “Bodäsuri”

20:00 - Listener poll

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Don’t forget to send us your feedback, questions or topic suggestions: Write us an email to [email protected], a text message or a voice message to play on the show +41 76 282 67 66.

Subscribe to the free newsletter

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Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music
Other ways to subscribe