When you think of Switzerland, you might not immediately think of its official name. After all, many countries are simply referred to by their nicknames, with common folk rarely bothering to chase up the official title. So what do the Swiss call Switzerland?
As you’ve likely guessed, Switzerland is known by the Swiss as being “Schweiz.” Now, if you’re worried about having to learn the Swiss language in order to order a side of Fondue or a Swiss Army Knife (among the many other delicious Swiss exports!), don’t fret – this particular pronunciation doesn’t adhere to the phonetics of the Swiss language. Instead, it’s just an anglicised version of the French “Suisse” – which is also used – though the rest of English-speaking Switzerland tends to stick with “Schweiz.” Heck, even the Germans just call the place “Schweiz,” so that’s as straightforward and easy as you can get!
And if you’re still having trouble pronouncing it just right? Well, think of a great big cheese fondue and the “Sch” being a big, enthusiastic swallow to get it down!
What Does “Schweiz” actually Mean?
The origin of the Swiss name “Schweiz” or “Suisse” is a bit up in the air. In fact, the name appeared in several recorded forms since the 12th century. One such form could be a clerical record from 1091 that called the region “Sweitze.”
But while the exact origin is not specified, the etymology of “Schweiz” including it’s various derivatives is set to mean “the place of the Schwyz”. “Schwyz” being a Swiss village near the north-western shore of Lake Lucerne. Thus, the name unofficially became the place of the Schwyz – and the place of the Swiss!
The official name of Switzerland is – as already mentioned – Confoederatio Helvetica or “Swiss Confederation”, given with its formation in 1291 as a confederacy of three cantons. not much later, it was encrypted as “Helvetia” or the female representation of the nation state. However, especially foreigners tend to keep calling it Schweiz.
The Reason it’s Used so Widely
The most likely reason that the Swiss name “Schweiz” is used so widely is its perceived simplicity and straightforwardness in comparison to other alternatives. After all, “Confoederatio Helvetica”? Difficult to remember, difficult to say..and difficult to spell. Not only that but it doesn’t sound very nice to the ears either. In contrast, “Schweiz” when pronounced correctly rolls smoothly off the tongue, making it one of the few examples of one syllable country names out there!
So even if you have trouble pronouncing the official name of Switzerland (“Confoederatio Helvetica”–remember that one for trivia nights!) – you have nothing to fear when dealing with Swiss culture, exports and delicacies. The name of the country is simple and straightforward, meaning all you need to worry about is enjoying the delicious chocolates and fondues all without hesitation!
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