Schwyz
/ʃviːts/noun
A canton of central Switzerland and the town that gave Switzerland its name.
Did you know?Schwyz became so politically important that its name was eventually extended to the whole confederation, giving us the modern name Switzerland through French and Latin forms.
Etymological Timeline
8th–9th Century
Old High German
Suittes
“An early recorded form of the place name, probably referring to the settlement or region.”
10th–12th Century
German
Switz
“A medieval form of the name for the locality in central Switzerland.”
13th Century
German
Schwyz
“The canton and town name as used in medieval sources.”
14th Century
Latin
Swi(t)ia / Helvetia (contextual)
“Latinized forms used in writing about the confederation and its territories.”
16th Century
French
Suisse
“The French national name for the Swiss Confederation, ultimately derived from Schwyz.”
Modern English
English
Switzerland
“The country name formed from the French/Latin tradition referring to the Swiss Confederation.”
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