Practice the Romansh Alphabet & Writing
Romansh is one of the four national languages of Switzerland, spoken primarily in the canton of Graubuenden. Despite having fewer than 60,000 native speakers, it holds official status and is a vital part of Swiss cultural identity. Learning Romansh opens a window into a unique Alpine linguistic tradition with deep Latin roots.
About the Latin
Script Type
Alphabet
Direction
Left to right
Characters
26
Origin
Romansh uses the standard Latin alphabet. It descends from Vulgar Latin brought to the Alps by Roman soldiers and settlers over two thousand years ago.
✍️ How to Practice
- Start by learning the five main Romansh idioms: Sursilvan, Sutsilvan, Surmiran, Puter, and Vallader, along with the standardised Rumantsch Grischun.
- Listen to RTR (Radiotelevisiun Svizra Rumantscha) broadcasts to familiarise yourself with natural Romansh pronunciation and rhythm.
- Practice writing common greetings and short sentences, paying attention to unique Romansh diacritics and vowel combinations.
- Use flashcards to memorise vocabulary that differs significantly from other Romance languages.
💡 Language Tips
- Romansh has several dialects that can differ substantially in vocabulary and pronunciation; Rumantsch Grischun is the written standard used in official documents.
- The letter combination 'tsch' is very common and is pronounced like the 'ch' in English 'church'.
- Romansh preserves many Latin words that have been lost in French, Spanish, and Italian, making it fascinating for comparative linguistics.
- Word stress in Romansh generally falls on the penultimate syllable, similar to Italian.
History & Background
Romansh evolved from the Vulgar Latin spoken in the Roman province of Raetia, which covered parts of modern-day Switzerland and Austria. Over the centuries, it became increasingly isolated as German-speaking populations expanded into the Alpine valleys. In 1938, a national referendum recognised Romansh as Switzerland's fourth national language. Today, revitalisation efforts and bilingual education programmes work to sustain the language for future generations.
Why Learn Romansh?
Learning Romansh connects you to a rare and endangered Romance language with a rich oral and literary tradition. It deepens your understanding of Swiss multiculturalism and provides a unique linguistic perspective that bridges Italian, French, and German influences.
Common Phrases
Allegra
ah-LEH-gra
Hello
Grazia fitg
GRAH-tsya fitch
Thank you very much
Co vai?
ko VYE
How are you?
Buna notg
BOO-na notch
Good night
Per plaschair
per pla-SHAIR
Please
A revair
ah reh-VAIR
Goodbye
Fun Facts
Romansh is the only national language of Switzerland that is not also an official language of any other country.
The Romansh word 'allegra' is used as a greeting and literally relates to the concept of joy and cheerfulness.
Switzerland's one-franc coin features text in all four national languages, including Romansh.
Essential Romansh Grammar for Beginners
Romansh grammar follows typical Romance language patterns with verb conjugation, grammatical gender, and adjective agreement. However, it also displays unique features shaped by centuries of contact with German and its preservation of archaic Latin structures.
Verb Conjugation (Present Tense)
Romansh verbs conjugate by person and number in the present tense, similar to other Romance languages. The three main conjugation groups end in -ar, -er, and -ir. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns, though some common verbs are irregular.
Jau parl rumantsch
I speak Romansh
parlar (-ar): jau parl, ti parlast, el/ella parla
Ti vendast il auto
You sell the car
vender (-er): jau vend, ti vendast, el/ella venda
El dorma bain
He sleeps well
durmir (-ir): jau dorm, ti dormast, el/ella dorma
Gender & Articles
Romansh has two grammatical genders: masculine and feminine. The definite articles are 'il' (masculine singular), 'la' (feminine singular), 'ils' (masculine plural), and 'las' (feminine plural). Articles and adjectives must agree with the noun in gender and number.
il cudesch
the book (masculine)
'il' = masculine singular definite article
la chasa
the house (feminine)
'la' = feminine singular definite article
ils uffants
the children (masculine plural)
'ils' = masculine plural definite article
Sursilvan vs Vallader Differences
The two most widely spoken Romansh idioms, Sursilvan and Vallader, differ in vocabulary, pronunciation, and some grammar. Sursilvan is spoken in the Surselva region, while Vallader is spoken in the Lower Engadine. Rumantsch Grischun bridges these differences as a written standard.
chasa (Sursilvan) / chesa (Vallader)
house
Vowel differences between the two idioms
jau (Sursilvan) / eu (Vallader)
I
Different first-person pronouns
negin (Sursilvan) / ingün (Vallader)
nobody
Vocabulary differences between idioms
Adjective Placement
In Romansh, most adjectives follow the noun they modify, as in other Romance languages. However, some common short adjectives such as 'grond' (big), 'pitschen' (small), and 'bun' (good) can precede the noun. Adjectives must agree in gender and number.
ina chasa gronda
a big house
Adjective 'gronda' follows and agrees with feminine noun
in bun ami
a good friend
'bun' is a short adjective that can precede the noun
ils cudeschs interessants
the interesting books
Adjective follows and agrees in plural
Negation
Negation in Romansh is formed by placing 'buc' (Sursilvan) or 'nu' (Vallader) before the verb. In Rumantsch Grischun, 'betg' is the standard negation word. Unlike French, Romansh does not use a two-part negation structure.
Jau na parl buc tudestg
I do not speak German (Sursilvan)
'na...buc' is the Sursilvan negation pattern
Eu nu chant
I do not sing (Vallader)
'nu' is the Vallader negation word
El na mangia betg charn
He does not eat meat (Rumantsch Grischun)
'na...betg' is the standard written form
Question Formation
Questions in Romansh can be formed by inverting the subject and verb, by using question words, or simply by using rising intonation. Common question words include 'tge' (what), 'nua' (where), 'cura' (when), and 'co' (how).
Parlast ti rumantsch?
Do you speak Romansh?
Inversion: verb before subject
Nua es ti?
Where are you?
'Nua' = where (question word)
Tge fast ti?
What are you doing?
'Tge' = what (question word)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people speak Romansh?
Approximately 60,000 people speak Romansh, primarily in the Swiss canton of Graubuenden. It is the least spoken of Switzerland's four national languages.
Is Romansh similar to Italian?
Romansh shares Latin roots with Italian and has some mutual intelligibility, but it has been heavily influenced by German and retains archaic Latin features not found in modern Italian.
What is Rumantsch Grischun?
Rumantsch Grischun is an artificially created written standard developed by linguist Heinrich Schmid in 1982 to unify the five main Romansh dialects for official and educational use.
Can I study Romansh at university?
Yes, several Swiss universities, particularly the University of Zurich and the University of Fribourg, offer courses in Romansh language and literature.
Is Romansh endangered?
Romansh is classified as 'definitely endangered' by UNESCO. The number of speakers has been declining, though active preservation efforts including bilingual schooling are helping stabilise it.