Basic Nouns

1. l'aua

   Water

   Usage

   Used to ask for or buy water; mineral water is aua minerala

   Grammar Note

   aua is feminine; the definite article becomes l' before a vowel

2. il mangiar

   Food

   Usage

   Food in general; use it when talking about meals in restaurants or shops

   Grammar Note

   mangiar is the verb to eat; with il it becomes the noun for food or eating

3. ils daners

   Money

   Usage

   Money in general, for payments and exchange. The currency is the Swiss franc (CHF)

   Grammar Note

   daners is a masculine noun used only in the plural

4. la tualetta

   Toilet

   Usage

   Used when asking for a toilet, as in Nua è la tualetta?

   Grammar Note

   tualetta is feminine; note the double t

5. il fazielet da palpiri

   Tissue

   Usage

   Paper tissues, for asking for pocket tissues

   Grammar Note

   fazielet is a masculine noun for handkerchief; adding da palpiri (of paper) makes it a paper tissue

6. la medischina

   Medicine

   Usage

   Medicine; mention it together with symptoms at pharmacies or clinics

   Grammar Note

   medischina is feminine and means both medicine (drug) and medicine (the field)

7. la bagascha

   Luggage

   Usage

   Travel luggage; useful when it is lost at airports and stations

   Grammar Note

   bagascha is a feminine singular noun that covers luggage as a whole

8. la clav

   Key

   Usage

   Key; for instance when you lose a room key

   Grammar Note

   clav is feminine and means key as well as a keyboard key

9. il bigliet

   Ticket

   Usage

   A ticket for trains and buses, at counters and machines

   Grammar Note

   bigliet is masculine and is used for travel and entry tickets

10. il passaport

    Passport

    Usage

    Passport; you may be asked for it at hotels and borders

    Grammar Note

    passaport is masculine

11. il telefon

    Phone

    Usage

    Phone; a mobile phone can also be called a telefonin

    Grammar Note

    telefon is masculine; telefonin (mobile phone) is the diminutive

12. il chargiabattarias

    Charger

    Usage

    A charger; used when asking to charge a device

    Grammar Note

    chargiabattarias is a masculine compound of chargiar (to charge) and battarias (batteries)

13. la staziun

    Station

    Usage

    A railway or bus station, including those of the Rhaetian Railway

    Grammar Note

    staziun is feminine and corresponds to German Bahnhof

14. l'ospital

    Hospital

    Usage

    Hospital; for sudden illness or injury

    Grammar Note

    ospital is masculine; the article becomes l' before a vowel

15. la polizia

    Police

    Usage

    Police, for theft and accidents. The emergency number for the police in Switzerland is 117

    Grammar Note

    polizia is feminine

16. la butia

    Shop

    Usage

    A shop; used for small shops and general stores

    Grammar Note

    butia is feminine and refers to small or specialised shops

17. la chombra

    Room

    Usage

    A room in a hotel or inn, for bookings and keys

    Grammar Note

    chombra is feminine

18. la via

    Road

    Usage

    A road or street, for asking the way

    Grammar Note

    via is feminine and means road, street or way

19. la famiglia

    Family

    Usage

    Family; for introductions and talking about relatives

    Grammar Note

    famiglia is feminine

20. il num

    Name

    Usage

    Name; for giving your name at reception or for a booking

    Grammar Note

    num is masculine and also means reputation

21. il chau

    Head

    Usage

    Head; for saying where it hurts

    Grammar Note

    chau is masculine and also means boss and roof

22. ils egls

    Eyes

    Usage

    Eyes; for pain or something in the eye

    Grammar Note

    egls is the plural of the masculine noun egl

23. ils dents

    Teeth

    Usage

    Teeth; for telling a dentist about a toothache

    Grammar Note

    dents is the plural of the masculine noun dent

24. la gula

    Throat

    Usage

    Throat; for telling someone about a sore throat

    Grammar Note

    gula is feminine and means throat

25. il venter

    Belly

    Usage

    Belly; for telling someone about stomach ache

    Grammar Note

    venter is masculine and means belly

26. il dies

    Back

    Usage

    Back; for telling someone about back pain

    Grammar Note

    dies is masculine and means back

27. la crusch dal dies

    Lower back

    Usage

    The lower back, for telling someone about pain there

    Grammar Note

    Literally "cross of the back". crusch is feminine and dal is da + il

28. il pe

    Foot

    Usage

    Foot; for telling someone about foot pain or injury

    Grammar Note

    pe is masculine; the plural is pes

29. il maun

    Hand

    Usage

    Hand; for telling someone about a hand injury or pain

    Grammar Note

    maun is masculine; the plural is mauns

30. il pèz

    Chest

    Usage

    Chest; for telling a doctor about chest pain

    Grammar Note

    pèz is masculine and carries a grave accent on è. It can also refer to a woman's breast, so use it in medical contexts

31. l'hotel

    Hotel

    Usage

    Hotel; for bookings and directions

    Grammar Note

    hotel is masculine; the article is l' even before the h

32. l'eroport

    Airport

    Usage

    Airport; for telling a taxi or train staff where you are going

    Grammar Note

    eroport is masculine; the article is l' before a vowel

33. l'auto da pumpiers

    Fire engine

    Usage

    A fire engine. The emergency number for the fire brigade in Switzerland is 118

    Grammar Note

    Literally "car of firefighters". auto is masculine; the article is l' before a vowel

34. il consulat

    Consulate

    Usage

    A consulate; the place to turn to, for example, when a passport is lost

    Grammar Note

    consulat is masculine

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