Your colleagues are chatting over lunch. Everyone laughs, but you cannot follow the story yet. How do you start learning Swiss German when you know little or no German?
This guide explores whether you need Standard German first, what to look for in an app or course, and how to build a short listening routine from your very first phrases.
You do not have to learn Standard German before starting Swiss German. Sprachschule Schneider AG offers programmes for people without previous German, with explanations in English. That gives you a way into everyday exchanges from the start.
Your priorities still matter. Swiss German helps you follow spoken conversations in German-speaking Switzerland. Standard German is especially useful for reading, writing and many work or study situations. Consider what you need most urgently: joining a lunch conversation, writing an email or preparing for a German examination.
If daily conversation is your immediate goal, you can begin with Swiss German and plan how to develop Standard German too. For a closer look, read our guide to Swiss German and Standard German.
Look for short dialogues you can understand with support, English explanations and phrases you can use straight away. Greetings, ordering lunch and asking someone to repeat are useful starting points. Each new phrase should come with audio, a clear meaning and an example.
Check the prerequisites carefully. A Swiss German course for German speakers may move too quickly if you are starting from zero. We also offer separate programmes for native German speakers and learners at German B2/C1; these build on knowledge a beginner does not yet have.
| Learning format | Useful for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
App / self-study course |
Short practice sessions at your own pace |
Swiss German recordings, explanations in English and complete everyday phrases. |
Podcasts / videos |
Getting used to different voices |
Beginner-friendly clips with translations or transcripts. Unscripted conversations may be too difficult at first. |
Live online course |
Regular practice without travelling |
A course that accepts beginners without German, with time to ask questions and practise. |
In-person group |
Learning with others at set times |
A suitable entry level, clear teaching language and enough individual speaking time. |
Private lessons |
Specific situations at work or in daily life |
Agreed goals, tailored listening practice and feedback on your own phrases. |
On small screens, swipe the table sideways.
A general German app will not automatically teach Swiss German. Check a sample lesson: is the recording in Swiss German, can you follow the English explanation, and do the activities make sense without prior German?
Learning to order a coffee is a useful first step. The next challenge is recognising the question that comes back. Choose material that includes both sides of a conversation. At first, a short supported dialogue is more useful than a long video you barely understand.
In live lessons you can ask about unfamiliar sounds, try your own phrases and practise responding. Find out whether the course focuses on listening, speaking or both. A combination of short independent practice and live conversation can work well when both parts support the same goal.
Your daily routine
Use one short beginner dialogue with audio and an English translation. Keep it simple enough to notice what you understand.
Choose a 20–30 second beginner dialogue with an English translation, for example ordering lunch. Listen twice. Is the person ordering food, asking a question or paying?
Check the translation. Pick two phrases you could use yourself. Replay each phrase and repeat it aloud, using the recording as your model.
Hide the translation and listen again. Can you recognise both phrases and explain their meaning? Say one with your own choice of food or drink. Revisit the clip tomorrow.
Already speak German at B2/C1 or native level? Our German-language guide to understanding Swiss German is written for you.
Yes. Sprachschule Schneider AG offers programmes for people with no previous German, explained in English. Check the entry requirements when choosing a course: some programmes instead assume German at B2/C1 or native level.
Standard German is useful for reading, writing and many work or study situations. You can still start with everyday Swiss German phrases. Choose your main learning focus according to what you need to do, and plan the other language variety alongside it or later.
An app can help you recognise and rehearse phrases. Conversations also require listening to an unexpected reply and responding yourself. Look for opportunities to practise that, with feedback where possible.
Start with the variety spoken by the people you regularly meet. Later, add recordings from different speakers and regions to broaden your listening skills.
Tell us what you would like to understand or say in daily life. We can help you choose a programme with English explanations that fits your starting point.