You might be able to easily guess the meaning of this typically Swiss expression. What happens to people who spend all day cleaning the house from top to bottom with a panosse? They se réduisent earlier than everyone else, meaning they’ve gotten tired and will go to bed soon.Įxample: Quelle journée, je n’en peux plus ! Je vais me réduire, à demain ! (“What a day, I can’t do any more! I’m going to bed, see you tomorrow!”) avoir une gonfle au pied This typical Swiss word just means “mop.”Įxample: C’est le cheni, ici ! Tu vas me faire le plaisir de donner un coup de panosse ! (“It’s a mess here! You’ll do me a favor and mop the floor!”) se réduire It’s a Swiss French expression that’s also used in the Franche-Comté region of France.Įxample: Tu as encore mis le cheni dans ta chambre ! (“You made a mess in your room again!”) la panosse This common, catch-all expression is used in the sense of ça va or ça marche, both as a question and a statement.Įxample: Tiens, Henri ! Ça faisait longtemps ! Ça joue ou bien ? (“Hey, Henri! It’s been a while! How’s it going?”) le cheniĬheni like chenille (“caterpillar”)? Nope! Le cheni in Switzerland is a mess or disorder. But don’t expect to be invited to play cards. If a Swiss person asks you this, they’re probably pretty cheerful. Discover our twenty favorite Helvetisms, because learning these Swiss French phrases will let you melt (like gruyère) into the landscape of Switzerland! Our 20 Favorite Swiss French Phrases Ça joue ? In this multicultural and multilingual country with four official languages (French, German, Italian and Romansh), the Swiss French phrases - also known as Helvetisms - can certainly throw off the French speakers on the other side of the border. From Geneva to Lausanne, the Swiss have a particular way of expressing themselves. Did you know that around two million people in Switzerland are French speakers? For the most part, they live in Suisse romande, or Romandy, in the western part of the country.
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