World Travel Guide

City Guide  - Strasbourg  - Language
Language

Alsatians speak French and many speak German as well. Some speak English or Elsässisch (Alsatian) - a High German dialect, which exists only as an oral language. Versions vary from town to town and Strasbourg has its own dialect. In spite of frequent attempts to restrict or ban the language, Alsatian is still spoken, particularly by the older generation. Owing to space restrictions in this guide, however, only the French names and phrases are given. There is an increasing interest to reassert Alsatian, demonstrated by the decision in 1995 to place bilingual (French/Alsatian) street names in key points of the town. Hence, place de la Cathédrale is also known as 'Muenschterplatz' and rue de la Douane as 'Kaufhusgass'. Owing to space limitations in this guide, however, addresses are given in French only.

Phrases
French is given first with Alsatian in brackets

Yes - Oui (Ya)
No - Non (Ne)
Hello - Bonjour (Bonjour)
Goodbye - Au revoir (Au revoir)
Please - S'il vous plaît (Wen's belebt)
Thank you - Merci (Merci)
My name is ... - Je m'appelle ... (Ich heiss ...)
How are you? - Comment ça va? (Wie geht's?)
I'm very well - Ça va bien (Es geht (mir) gut)
I feel ill - Je ne me sens pas bien (Es isch mir net gut)
How much - Combien est-ce
does it cost? - que ça coûte? (Wie viel koscht's)
Do you speak - Est-ce que vous
English? - parlez anglais? (Redener Englisch?)
I don't - Je ne comprends
understand - pas (Ich versteh net)
Where is ...? - Où est ...? (Wo isch ...?)
Entrance - Entrée (Ingang)
Exit - Sortie (Usgang)
Danger - Danger (Gefahr)
Open - Ouvert (Offe)
Closed - Fermé (Zu)
Toilets - Toilettes (Toilet)
Doctor - Docteur (Dokter)
Hotel - Hôtel (Hotel)
Restaurant - Restaurant (Restaurant)
Beer - Bière (Beer)
Wine - Vin (Win)
Menu - Menu (Menu)
Today - Aujourd'hui (Hit)
Tomorrow - Demain (Morie)
Monday - Lundi (Monda)
Tuesday - Mardi (Diensda)
Wednesday - Mercredi (Mitwoch)
Thursday - Jeudi (Donnersda)
Friday - Vendredi (Frida)
Saturday - Samedi (Samsda)
Sunday - Dimanche (Sonda)
One - Un / Une (Eins)
Two - Deux (Zwei)
Three - Trois (Drei)
Four - Quatre (Fer)
Five - Cinq (Fenf)
Six - Six (Sechs)
Seven - Sept (Seve)
Eight - Huit (Acht)
Nine - Neuf (Nin)
Ten - Dix (Zehn)
Twenty - Vingt (Zwanzig)
Thirty - Trente (Drissig)
Forty - Quarante (Verzig)
Fifty - Cinquante (Fufzig)
Sixty - Soixante (Sachzig)
Seventy - Soixante-dix (Sewezig)
Eighty - Quatre-vingt (Achzig)
Ninety - Quatre-vingt dix (Ninzig)
One Hundred - Cent (Hundert)
One Thousand - Mille (Tausig)



Copyright © 2001 Columbus Publishing
    
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