“Grüezi” works any time of the day – even when picking up a phone call. It is a short form of “Gott grüez i”, which means as much as “may God greet you.” When it comes to friends, an informal “Hoi”, “Sali” or “Ciao” plus the name is the way to go! For instance, “Sali Birgit” or “Hoi Manfred.”
Hoi, Sali, Tschau/Ciao
The informal greeting equivalent is “hoi“, pronounced “hoy”. Yes, like ships ahoy! Friends and younger people will use it a lot, so keep your ears open and you will notice “hoi” everywhere you go. Sali is also one of those common phrases you will hear in the north of Switzerland.
In the Swiss German part there are quite a few different ways to say goodbye depending upon whether or not you are formal or informal with the person. Some of them are "Adieu" or "Aufwiedersehen". "Ciao" is considered informal.
“Better to sell with regret than to keep with regret.” “The tongue is the worst piece of meat in the world.” “As the stone leaves your hand, it belongs to the devil.” “It is easier to criticize than to do better.”
For informal greetings, “hoi” (pronounced “hoy”) is commonly used, especially among friends and younger people. Keep your ears open, and you'll notice “hoi” everywhere you go. In the northern parts of Switzerland, “sali” is also a common phrase you'll hear, and it can be used interchangeably with “hoi.”
Danke (thank you)
Indeed the Swiss German Danke means the same as the High German Danke, which is “thank you”.
Even in German-speaking Switzerland, there's more than one word; Proscht, Zum Wohl, Gsundheit are all options. But as far as we can tell, it doesn't matter where you are in Switzerland, as you clink your glass with your companions, look your fellow-imbibers STRAIGHT in the eye as you clink their glass.
Meals are typically started with 'bon appetit' or 'Guten Appetit'. Wait for everybody to be served and for your host/hostess to start before eating your meal. Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.
Both "Bella Ciao" and "Ciao Bella" can be translated as "hello/goodbye beautiful".
In such cases, you say “I heisse (your name here)” in formal introductions, or you can also say “Mi name isch” in a more relaxed situation. These literally translate to “I am called” and “My name is.” So, don't be hesitant to make new connections; it is the best way to practice some Swiss German phrases.
This can leave some travelers confused. In Switzerland, tipping is a kind gesture and appropriate in some situations, but never expected. If you are truly impressed by the service, you are welcome to tip and most often it is much appreciated and well received.
Grüezi. Grüezi is the Swiss-German word for hello, used mostly in more formal settings. This greeting is widely and universally used in Switzerland; however, it is used more frequently in Central and Eastern Switzerland.
In Swiss German, there are many ways to say "Good Bye". The most common ones are "Ade", "Ciao", "Tschüss" and "Uf Wiederluege" or "Uf Widerluege".
“Merci, adie!” A common way to say goodbye is “Adie”, which, unlike the French “Adieu”, does not mean “to God,” and thus “never to be seen again,” but is simply the polite way of saying “goodbye.” And since Swiss German employs many loanwords originating from French, “merci” is a common way of saying thank you.
Greetings are usually informal, with first names often used in initial introductions. A handshake is the most common greeting when meeting someone for the first time or in professional settings. Handshakes should be firm and accompanied with direct eye contact throughout the greeting, especially in business contexts.
Hello. Hi, it's nice to meet you. Good morning/afternoon/evening. I'm pleased to meet you.
The Swiss value cleanliness, honesty, hard work, and material possessions. Motto: "Unity, yes; Uniformity, no." They are very proud of their environment and have a long tradition of freedom. They value sobriety, thrift, tolerance, punctuality and a sense of responsibility.
Finally we have the expression Bello / Bella di nonna! which means “Grandma's darling!” Grandmothers often address their grandchildren using this phrase as a way of showing love and affection.