DuolingoDuolingo has one German course, and it teaches standard German. In Switzerland, people speak local dialects every day, and those dialects sound very different from the German of Germany. When they read or write, they use Swiss Standard German, which spells Strasse with no ß and has words like Velo for a bicycle. That's why "Swiss German" means two things when you look for an app: the spoken dialects, and the written standard. Our Swiss Standard German guide explains the difference.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn German. You learn from German you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, your level and what you like, and she writes your Swiss Standard German lessons. If a sentence is hard to follow, ask Poppy to explain it.
With Regenerative Review™, words you save show up again in new lessons, so that you can review words in new contexts without having to use flashcards.
Try asking why Swiss writers say Billett for a ticket.
Bubblegum is mostly reading and listening, so see the tutors and partners below for speaking practice.
- Lessons are in Swiss Standard German, with Swiss spelling, like Strasse with no ß, and Swiss words, like Velo for a bicycle.
- Regenerative Review™ brings saved words back in new lessons, and you can export them to Anki.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- Lessons teach Swiss Standard German, not the Swiss German dialects, and the read-aloud voices speak standard German, not a Swiss accent.
- Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read.
- Regenerative Review™
Mobile
uTalk's Swiss German course teaches the Bernese dialect, so it fits talking with neighbors more than reading and writing. It teaches words and phrases, so grammar needs another resource. You can try starter words free.
LernLaterne is working on a Swiss High German course with stories and dialogs to read and listen to. The course is coming soon, so check what is there before you pay.
Preply
Say whether you want the dialect or standard German, since some Swiss tutors teach both.
- Filter German tutors by country of birth, and look for Switzerland.
- Book one-to-one lessons over video.
MobileWeb
italki
Tell your teacher which one you want, the dialect or Swiss Standard German, so the examples fit.
- Use the Teachers from filter to look for German teachers from Switzerland.
- Pick a lesson time that suits you both.
MobileWeb
Tandem
Members in Switzerland list German and Swiss German, so say which one you want.
- You can find members in Zürich, Lucerne, and Baden.
- Trade voice notes, or talk over video.
MobileWeb
| App | How You Can Start |
|---|---|
| uTalk | You can try starter words free, then buy the course or subscribe. |
| Preply | Each tutor sets their own price, and you pay per lesson. |
| italki | An account is free, and every lesson you book has a price set by the teacher. |
| Tandem | The app is free to join, and Tandem Pro costs extra. |
Which Swiss German app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning German, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or book a tutor from Switzerland on Preply or italki if you want to hear Swiss words from the first lesson.
Will people in Germany understand Swiss Standard German?
Yes. It's standard German with a few Swiss words and spellings, so what you learn there works in Germany too. The dialects are a different matter, and people from Germany often find them hard to follow.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read. Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- Duolingo: course list
- Duolingo: German course for English speakers
- Duolingo Blog: Learning a dialect (learn the standard language first)
- Wikipedia: Swiss Standard German (mainly written; no ß; Billett, Velo, Spital)
- uTalk: Swiss German course (Bernese dialect)
- uTalk: current iPhone listing (free starter words)
- LernLaterne: Learn Swiss High German (course coming soon)
- Preply: German tutors (country of birth filter)
- italki: German teachers (Teachers from filter)
- italki: home page (what is free)
- Tandem: language exchange in Switzerland
- Tandem: current iPhone listing
- Bubblegum
- Tandem
