Helvetisms (Neo-Latin Helvetia "Switzerland" and -ism) are features distinctive of the varieties of language spoken in Switzerland, most notably in Swiss Standard German, where they distinguish it from Standard German. The most frequent Helvetisms in German occur in vocabulary and pronunciation, but there are also some distinctive features in syntax and orthography. The French and Italian spoken in Switzerland have similar terms, which are also known as Helvetisms. Current French dictionaries, such as the Petit Larousse, include several hundred helvetisms. The term Helvetism has also been used in broader cultural and historical contexts, particularly in reference to Swiss literary and intellectual currents from the 18th century onward. In this sense, it has denoted expressions of national identity and unity across linguistic and regional boundaries, often linked to movements emphasizing Swiss values, independence, and supracantonal solidarity.
Background The definitive work for German orthography, the Duden, explicitly declares a number of helvetisms as correct Standard German – albeit with the [schweiz.] annotation, denoting that the usage of the word is limited to Switzerland. However, not all words may be considered part of the "Swiss standard language"/"Swiss standard German" category, because frequency of usage must be evaluated as well; if this does not apply, or if a word's use is known to span only one or more specific dialectal regions, the word must be categorized "dialectal" (German: mundartlich, often abbreviated mdal.) In orthographical terms, the most significant difference to Standard German outside Switzerland is the absence of ß (eszett). (After having been officially abandoned in the Canton of Zürich in 1935, this character gradually fell into disuse, until it was eventually dropped by the Neue Zürcher Zeitung in 1974.) In everyday language, Helvetisms may be used both consciously and unconsciously by a Swiss German native speaker. Classic examples of Helvetism usage throughout entire literary works are found in a large part of Swiss literature, notably Jeremias Gotthelf's novels located in the Emmental; a contemporary example would be Tim Krohn in his Quatemberkinder. Another group, the most notable of whom is Peter Bichsel, deliberately use Helvetisms to arouse a sort of emotional attachment to the readers' home country: Bichsel is notorious for using dialectal words like Beiz (instead of Kneipe [English: "pub"]), or Kasten (instead of Schrank [English: "cupboard/cabinet/closet"]) in his "San Salvador" short story. Lastly, there is yet another group of authors whose readers are known to be located all over the German-speaking territory (Germany, Austria, Switzerland as well as some smaller minorities in other European countries) and therefore traditionally refrain from using any Helvetisms in their literary works. In addition, words which are used outside Switzerland, but which originate from Swiss German may be called "Helvetisms". Analogously to "Helvetisms", there are also Austricisms and Germanisms (also Teutonicisms).
Examples of Helvetisms
Figures of speech mit abgesägten Hosen dastehen (den kürzeren gezogen haben, being in an unlucky and hopeless situation) aus Abschied und Traktanden (fallen) (außer Betracht fallen, when a thing doesn't matter anymore) es macht den Anschein (es hat den Anschein, it seems) in den Ausgang gehen (ausgehen, going out) von Auge (mit bloßem Auge, by naked eye) ausjassen (aushandeln, bargaining something/negotiating) von Beginn weg (von Beginn an, from the beginnings) ab Blatt (spielen) (vom Blatt spielen/ohne Übung, to read music a prima vista, i. e., to play the notes directly from the sheet without having practiced) bachab schicken (etwas verwerfen, refusing or dismiss something, e.g., a project) Einsitz nehmen (Mitglied in einem Gremium werden, becoming a member of a gremium) dastehen wie der Esel am Berg (dastehen wie der Ochse vorm Berg, getting stuck and perplexed by an unexpected situation) die Faust im Sack machen (die Faust in der Tasche ballen, holding back/hiding aggression) innert nützlicher Frist (angemessen schnell, in a quick way) das Fuder überladen (des Guten zuviel tun, doing too much) handkehrum (andererseits, on the other hand) Hans was Heiri (Jacke wie Hose, when two things result in the same or are the same; either way) es hat (es gibt, there are) sein Heu nicht auf derselben Bühne haben mit (nicht dieselben Ansichten haben wie, to not find somebody's personality very appealing, having other interests/attitudes) jemandem geht der Knopf auf (jemandem geht ein Licht auf, suddenly getting an idea to solve a problem; "a light bulb goes up") den Rank finden (eine Lösung finden, finding a solution) zu reden geben (für Gesprächsstoff sorgen, a thing being controversial, being much discussed) kein Schleck (kein Honigschlecken, no picnic) neben den Schuhen stehen (falsch liegen/sich nicht wohl fühlen in seiner Haut, to not feel well in a situation) es streng haben (viel zu tun haben, having a lot of work) in Tat und Wahrheit (in Wirklichkeit, the truth is...) einen Tolggen im Reinheft haben (einen (Schönheits-) Fehler haben, having one single flashy mistake) gut tönen (gut klingen/vielsprechend sein, sounding good/interesting) gut schmecken (gut riechen, to smell good; the literal translation would be tasting good) keinen Wank tun/machen (sich nicht rühren, to be still, not moving) es wird sich weisen (es wird sich zeigen, the future will show it) werweisen (hin und her raten or sich nicht entscheiden können, guessing without a clue, or not being decisive) Jetzt ist genug Heu unten (Jetzt reicht es!, enough!) (etwas) versorgen (einräumen put something into [e.g. a cupboard or a cabinet]; in Standard German, versorgen means to attend to someone)
Swiss specifics In the area's cuisine, local culture and politics, there are numerous peculiarities that are not well known outside Switzerland and which do not have an equivalent standard German expression.
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