Schwyzerdialekt
/ˈʃʋaɪ̯t͡sɐʁ di̯aˈlɛkt/noun
A German term for a Swiss dialect, especially one belonging to the Swiss German dialect group.
Did you know?The word’s second half ultimately comes from Greek dialektos, meaning a manner of speaking or conversation, while Schwyz refers to the Swiss canton whose name helped give Switzerland its German name.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*leg-
“To speak, collect, or select; a root that developed into several Greek words connected with speech and language.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
διαλέγεσθαι (dialegesthai)
“To converse or discuss; literally, to speak with one another.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
διάλεκτος (dialektos)
“A way of speaking, conversation, or regional speech.”
972 CE
Old High German
Suittes
“An early recorded form associated with Schwyz, the Swiss canton whose name later became linked with the country.”
Middle High German
German
swīzer
“A person from Schwyz or Switzerland; the source of modern German Schweizer.”
Modern German
German
Schweizerdialekt / Schwyzerdialekt
“A Swiss dialect; the spelling Schwyzerdialekt evokes the canton Schwyz and is used for Swiss German speech varieties.”