Convenience Store

1. Cura avris Vus puspè?

   What time do you open again?

   Usage

   Ask staff when a shop that is closed for lunch or a break reopens. Small Swiss shops often close at midday and on Sundays

   Grammar Note

   In questions the verb and Vus are inverted (avris Vus). The polite Vus is always capitalised. Composed sentence; native review recommended

2. Essas Vus averts la dumengia?

   Are you open on Sundays?

   Usage

   Ask whether a shop is open on Sundays. Many Swiss shops close on Sundays; stations and petrol-station shops are among the few exceptions

   Grammar Note

   Avert (open) agrees with the subject, so it becomes averts. Composed sentence; native review recommended

3. Jau vuless in bigliet d'autobus.

   I would like a bus ticket.

   Usage

   Ask for a bus ticket at a kiosk or station shop. Tickets are more often bought at machines or counters, and some routes do not sell on board

   Grammar Note

   Jau vuless is the polite "I would like". Da becomes d' before a vowel (d'autobus). Composed sentence; native review recommended

4. Nus vendain ils bigliets be a la staziun.

   We only sell the tickets at the station.

   Usage

   What a shop assistant says when they do not sell tickets and send you to the station. Useful to recognise

   Grammar Note

   Be means "only". Nus vendain is the nus form of vender. Composed sentence; native review recommended

5. Avais Vus marcas postalas?

   Do you have stamps?

   Usage

   Use it when buying stamps with postcards. Besides post offices, some kiosks and shops sell them

   Grammar Note

   Plural of marca postala (stamp). The polite Vus is always capitalised. Composed sentence; native review recommended

6. Jau vuless in credit da diesch francs per mes telefonin.

   I would like to top up my phone with ten francs.

   Usage

   For topping up a prepaid phone. The Swiss currency is the franc. How top-ups work differs by shop and operator

   Grammar Note

   Phrased as "I would like a ten-franc credit for my phone" without a dedicated top-up verb. Composed sentence; native review recommended

7. Stoss jau pajar l'emprim a la cassa?

   Do I have to pay at the till first?

   Usage

   Check whether you pay at the till before ordering at a hot-snack or sandwich counter. Practice differs from shop to shop

   Grammar Note

   Stoss is the jau form of stuair (to have to); in a question jau moves after it. Composed sentence; native review recommended

8. Pudais Vus far a mai in sandwich cun schambun e chaschiel?

   Could you make me a ham and cheese sandwich?

   Usage

   A way to ask a bakery or kiosk counter to make you a sandwich

   Grammar Note

   "Pudais Vus + infinitive" makes a polite request. Sandwich is masculine. The polite Vus is always capitalised. Composed sentence; native review recommended

9. Stgaud jau quai per Vus?

   Shall I heat it up for you?

   Usage

   What staff ask when offering to warm what you bought. Handy to recognise

   Grammar Note

   In a question the verb precedes jau. Stgaudar means to warm up. The polite Vus is always capitalised. Composed sentence; native review recommended

10. Pudais Vus dar a mai ina tastga, per plaschair?

    Could you give me a bag, please?

    Usage

    Ask for a carrier bag at the till. Many Swiss shops charge for bags, and many people bring their own

    Grammar Note

    Tastga is a feminine noun meaning bag. The polite Vus is always capitalised. Composed sentence; native review recommended

11. La tastga custa diesch raps.

    The bag costs ten rappen.

    Usage

    What the assistant says about the price of a bag. The Swiss subunit is the raps (rappen); 100 raps make one franc. The price varies by shop

    Grammar Note

    Raps does not change in the plural; 100 raps = 1 franc. Composed sentence; native review recommended

12. Poss jau vesair Voss document d'identitad?

    May I see your ID?

    Usage

    Staff may say this to check your age when you buy alcohol or tobacco. Show your passport or ID card

    Grammar Note

    Voss (your) goes with the polite Vus and is always capitalised. Composed sentence; native review recommended

13. Fin cura po ins mangiar quai?

    How long can this be eaten?

    Usage

    Ask how long a packed meal or sandwich keeps. The date is on the packaging, but this lets you check with staff

    Grammar Note

    Ins is the impersonal subject, like German man. It avoids a dedicated "keeps" word and asks until when it can be eaten. Composed sentence; native review recommended

14. Na emblidai betg la quittanza.

    Do not forget the receipt.

    Usage

    What staff say when handing over the receipt after payment. Keep it for returns or warranty

    Grammar Note

    Negation wraps the verb in na … betg. The -ai imperative is the form for polite Vus. Composed sentence; native review recommended

15. Duatschient grams schambun, per plaschair.

    Two hundred grams of ham, please.

    Usage

    Ask for ham by weight at a deli counter. Quantities are given in grams

    Grammar Note

    Duatschient is 200 written as one word (tschient is 100). Quantity followed by the item is enough to order. Schambun is the general word for ham. Composed sentence; native review recommended

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