adj
Common
Swiss
swihs
Swiss (adj) means relating to Switzerland or its people. Example: “The hotel was known for its Swiss precision and cleanliness.”
adj
1
Relating to Switzerland or its people.
"The hotel was known for its Swiss precision and cleanliness."
noun
1
A person from Switzerland.
"Several Swiss joined the mountaineering expedition."
2
A pale, mild cheese with characteristic holes, associated with Switzerland.
"He ordered a sandwich with turkey and Swiss."
How to use Swiss
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to Switzerland, a person from there, or the cheese named after it.
Common pairings
Swiss cheese
Swiss watch
Swiss Alps
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Word forms
- Plural
- Swisses
- Third person singular
- swisses
- Past tense
- swissed
- Comparative
- more Swiss
- Superlative
- most Swiss
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The hotel was known for its _____ precision and cleanliness.
Etymology
Adopted from Middle French Suisse in the early 1500s, alongside the older form Switzer borrowed directly from German.
Class of 1500
Swiss joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
Rhymes for Swiss
See all rhymes for Swiss →Frequently asked questions
What does “Swiss” mean?
The word “Swiss” means relating to Switzerland or its people. In plain terms, relating to Switzerland, a person from there, or the cheese named after it.
How do you pronounce “Swiss”?
“Swiss” is pronounced swihs (/swɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “Swiss” in a sentence?
Here is “Swiss” used in a sentence: “The hotel was known for its Swiss precision and cleanliness.”
What part of speech is “Swiss”?
Depending on how it is used, “Swiss” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “Swiss” come from?
The word “Swiss” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Middle French. Adopted from Middle French Suisse in the early 1500s, alongside the older form Switzer borrowed directly from German.
Is “Swiss” a common word?
“Swiss” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Swiss” have?
“Swiss” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to Switzerland or its people.
What is the difference between 'Swiss' and 'Switzerland'?
'Switzerland' is the name of the country, while 'Swiss' is the adjective and noun relating to it, as in 'Swiss chocolate' or 'a Swiss.' You would say Switzerland is the nation and its people and products are Swiss.
Is 'Swiss' both singular and plural?
Yes. As a noun for people from Switzerland, 'Swiss' stays the same whether you mean one person or many, so you can say 'a Swiss' and 'several Swiss.' There is no separate plural form like 'Swisses.'
Is 'Swiss' always capitalized?
Yes. Because it derives from the country Switzerland, 'Swiss' is a proper adjective and noun and is always written with a capital S, including in familiar terms like 'Swiss cheese' and 'Swiss Army knife.'
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