Electronics

1. il telefonin

   Mobile phone

   Usage

   The everyday word for a mobile phone. In German-speaking Switzerland it is also called Natel, which Romansh also understands. Reception can be weak in mountain valleys

   Grammar Note

   Telefonin is derived from telefon (phone) with a diminutive ending; masculine. A smartphone is sometimes described as a telefonin with a touch screen

2. il tablet

   Tablet

   Usage

   A tablet device. It comes from the longer phrase computer a tablet

   Grammar Note

   Tablet is masculine and borrowed from English

3. il computer

   Computer

   Usage

   A computer in general. Handy when asking about a computer at a hotel business corner. A separate word, ordinatur, also exists

   Grammar Note

   Computer is masculine and borrowed from English

4. la battaria

   Battery

   Usage

   A battery of any kind. Show it when your phone is about to die or when you need to buy batteries

   Grammar Note

   Battaria is feminine, plural battarias. The word for a charger, chargiabattarias, contains it

5. il WLAN

   Wi-Fi (WLAN)

   Usage

   In Switzerland, as in German, the term is often written WLAN. It is the noun to use when asking for the password at a hotel or cafe

   Grammar Note

   WLAN is treated as masculine and is written in capitals

6. l'apparat da fotografar

   Camera

   Usage

   A device for taking photos. You can show the word when asking someone to take a picture

   Grammar Note

   Literally "device for photographing". Apparat is masculine and the article becomes l' before a vowel

7. la lampa da maun

   Flashlight (torch)

   Usage

   A flashlight. Check that you have one before a mountain hut stay or a night walk; it is essential on dark mountain paths

   Grammar Note

   Literally "hand lamp"; lampa is feminine

8. la televisiun

   Television

   Usage

   Covers both the set and the broadcast. The Romansh broadcaster is RTR (Radiotelevisiun Svizra Rumantscha), sometimes available on a hotel TV

   Grammar Note

   Televisiun is feminine. It is not a dedicated word for the set like German Fernseher

9. la frestgera

   Refrigerator

   Usage

   A refrigerator. Useful for asking whether a room has one or whether you may store food. Also shortened to frigo

   Grammar Note

   Frestgera is feminine; the cluster stg is pronounced roughly "shtch"

10. l'autpledader

    Loudspeaker

    Usage

    A loudspeaker. Use it when asking whether you may play music. In mountain huts quiet is expected at night

    Grammar Note

    Autpledader is masculine, built on the idea of "loud speaker". The article becomes l' before a vowel

11. ils uregliers

    Headphones

    Usage

    Headphones or earphones. On trains use them so that others do not hear your music

    Grammar Note

    Uregliers is a masculine noun used only in the plural. It is derived from ureglia (ear)

12. la climatisaziun

    Air conditioning

    Usage

    Air conditioning. Many Alpine lodgings have none, so in summer open a window or ask for another room

    Grammar Note

    Climatisaziun is feminine; nouns ending in -aziun are feminine

Browse all TravelPhrases languages