Language
"Gruezi”
"Gruezi" is a Swiss-German daytime greeting and is always used before opening a conversation or asking for assistance in a shop. "En guete" is similar to the Italian phrase "buon appetito" and is what you should say before beginning a meal. Another important thing to remember when visiting Switzerland is to use direct eye contact in business transactions, in stores and especially when you drink a toast. Lift your glass towards the person, say "prost" or "santé" and clink glasses, maintaining eye contact. At a large table, the custom is to raise your glass, holding it at the stem, tilt it towards the person, say "prost" (or "sante," depending on which part of Switzerland you're in) whilst engaging eye contact with the person you are toasting.
River regional team, Switzerland
"Bonjour"
Saying “bonjour” (or bonsoir after 4 pm) with a smile will open every door. And in Alsace, we say “bonjour besame!” It’s local dialect (a mix of French and old German) for “hello, everyone!”
Audrey Riehm, Program Director
