News, 17 September 2026
Are you learning French in Geneva and thought you’d finally mastered everyday vocabulary? Then someone asks you to buy a cornet, tells you to meet them at seven o’clock… well, almost, or explains that you have to park the car before mopping the floor.
Welcome to French-speaking Switzerland!
The French spoken in Switzerland is, of course, French, but it also has its own vocabulary, certain expressions, and a few linguistic quirks that can be surprising when you first arrive.
Here are 25 Swiss words and phrases you should know to better understand the French-speaking Swiss—and to feel a little more at home in Geneva.
Let’s start with one of the best-known ones.
In French-speaking Switzerland, 70 is pronounced “septante,” not “soixante-dix.”
“The course costs seventy francs.”
For many learners, this is actually rather good news: “seventy” follows the same logic as “forty,” “fifty,” or “sixty.”
“Huitante ” means 80. But be careful: its usage varies by canton.
In Geneva, people generally say “quatre-vingt,” while “huitante” is used primarily in the cantons of Vaud, Valais, and Fribourg.
So here’s a Swiss word you might hear… but not necessarily in Geneva.
After “septante” comes ” nonante ” for 90.
“She lives at number ninety.”
Seventy, eighty, ninety: now you know the Geneva way of counting.
Learners who started learning French in France are happy they no longer have to do math when they hear these numbers in Geneva 🙂
Your ” natel” is your cell phone.
“My cell phone battery is dead.”
The term remains iconic in Swiss French, even though “portable” and “téléphone” are also widely used.
If a shopkeeper in Geneva offers you a cone, they aren’t necessarily offering you ice cream.
A “cornet” can simply refer to a bag, particularly a bag used to carry groceries.
“Would you like an ice cream cone?”
A ” panosse ” is a mop.
And “panosser” means to mop the floor.
“I spilled my coffee; I’m going to wipe it up.”
Here’s a particularly useful word that international French textbooks rarely teach.
In Switzerland, you can park your car.
It simply means parking it.
“Where’d you park?”
The word ” parking ” is also very common.
Since you’re parking your car, it makes sense to look for a parking spot.
In France, you’ll more often hear the terms ” place de parking ” or ” place de stationnement.”
“There’s never a parking spot in this neighborhood!”
A phrase that can quickly come in handy in Geneva.
Need cash? Look for an ATM.
It’s an ATM.
“Is there an ATM nearby?”
In French-speaking Switzerland, the term “déchetterie” is commonly used to refer to a facility where certain types of waste are brought to be sorted or recycled.
Depending on the municipalities and cantons, you may also come across other designations.
When you’re looking for an apartment in Geneva, you’ll quickly come across this word.
A property management company is a business that manages buildings and residential units, among other things, on behalf of property owners.
“I sent my application to the housing authority.”
For someone moving to Geneva, this is probably one of the first words of the local vocabulary to learn!
When you’re looking for a place to live, the rent may be listed with or without utilities included.
Service charges consist of certain expenses related to the residence and the building, as specified in the contract.
“The rent is 2,000 francs, including utilities.”
In Geneva, an “arcade” can refer to a commercial space located on the ground floor of a building.
“They opened a new arcade in the neighborhood.”
This usage may come as a surprise to those who are most familiar with the architectural meaning of “arcade.”
Tea rooms are a staple of the Swiss landscape.
It is usually a coffee shop or tea room, often combined with a bakery or pastry shop.
“Shall we meet at the tea room after class?”
In French-speaking Switzerland, you’ll very often come across the phrase “à choix.”
“You have three desserts to choose from.”
This means you can choose from several options.
“Tout de bon!” is a phrase typical of French-speaking Switzerland used to wish someone well.
You can hear it as you’re saying goodbye:
“Thank you, see you soon, and all the best!”
Someone thanks you and replies:
” Service ! “
No worries. In French-speaking Switzerland, ” service!” can be used as a response to “merci” , meaning ” you’re welcome” or “with pleasure” .
Here’s an expression that can cause a moment of panic for a language learner.
In some parts of French-speaking Switzerland, “adieu! ” can be used as a greeting without implying that you’ll never see each other again.
However, its use varies by region and generation.
Here’s a particularly useful expression.
Is it on? may mean:
“Let’s meet at 6 p.m. in front of the train station. Is that okay?”
And the reply could simply be:
“Yeah, it works!”
“Bonnard ” means “pleasant,” “friendly,” or “cool” in informal speech.
“This terrace is really great!”
However, its usage varies by region and generation.
Here is a construction that often puzzles French speakers from other countries.
To be pleasantly surprised means to have a positive surprise when you were expecting something less favorable.
“I thought the restaurant would be just okay, but I was pleasantly surprised.”
In other words: your expectations were exceeded.
In standard French, the expression “se mettre sur son trente-et-un ” is used to mean “to dress elegantly.”
In French-speaking Switzerland, you might also hear the expression “se mettre sur son trente-six.”
“He dressed to the nines for the party.”
Be careful with meals: they can be a source of confusion.
Traditionally in French-speaking Switzerland:
lunch = morning meal
dinner = lunch
dinner = evening meal
Usage evolves and varies from person to person, but these terms remain widely used.
“Shall we meet for lunch at noon?”
Yes, at noon, not in the evening!
By the same token, “souper” refers to the evening meal.
“What’s for dinner?”
If you’re learning French in Switzerland, this is a phrase you’ll hear regularly.
A promotion is a sale or special offer at a store.
“The coffee is on special this week.”
You’ll come across this phrase quite often in Swiss supermarkets.
Learning a language isn’t just about mastering the grammar and vocabulary taught in textbooks.
To communicate naturally, you also need to understand the language as it is actually used around you.
In Geneva, hearing words like “septante,” “natel,” “panosse,” “parking spot,” or “ça joue? ” is part of everyday life.
And that is precisely what makes learning a language a dynamic experience.
That is also why, at SwitzerLangues, we expose our students to the French actually spoken in Geneva during our classroom and school activities set in real-life Geneva and around the city.
Not necessarily.
Some are very common, while others are familiar, regional, or used more frequently by certain generations.
So the goal isn’t to memorize this list just so you can definitely use ” panosse ” or “déçu” in the right context in your next conversation.
The most important thing is to recognize them when you hear them.
Little by little, you’ll naturally adopt the ones that fit your environment and the way you speak.
At SwitzerLangues, learning French also means learning to communicate in real-life situations.
Our French courses for adults in Geneva help you develop the skills you need to live, work, and communicate in French, while discovering the unique aspects of the local language and culture.
Have you just arrived in Geneva, or would you like to become more fluent in French?
Discover our French courses in Geneva and find the program that best suits your level and goals.
