Language/Swiss-german/Grammar/How-to-Use-Have
Hi Swiss German learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on the use of "have" in Swiss German. We will explore its different forms and give examples to illustrate its meaning. You will also learn some interesting facts about Swiss culture!
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Give your Opinion & Negation.
What is "have" in Swiss German?[edit | edit source]
"Have" in Swiss German is translated as "ha" or "händ". Like in English, it can be used as an auxiliary verb and as a main verb.
As an auxiliary verb, it is used to form compound tenses in the present, past, and future. For example:
| Swiss German | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich ha | Ich ha mis Buech glesä | I have read my book |
| du häsch | Häsch du müed? | Have you got tired? |
| er hät | Er hät eso vil hürä müese | He had to listen so much |
When used as a main verb, it can have different meanings depending on the context. For example:
| Swiss German | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich ha | Ich ha e Fahrrad | I've got a bike |
| du häsch | Du häsch d'Zit | You have the time |
| er hät | Er hät es Ziel | He has a goal |
In these cases, "have" is translated as "have got", "have something" or "possess".
How to conjugate "have" in Swiss German[edit | edit source]
The verb "ha" (have) is irregular in Swiss German, which means that its conjugation is not fixed and contains deviations from the regular pattern. Here is its conjugation in the present tense:
| Person | Swiss German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st singular | ich ha | [ɪç xa] | I have |
| 2nd singular | du häsch | [duː ˈhæʃ] | You have |
| 3rd singular | er/sie/es hät | [ɛr/siː/ɛs hæːt] | He/she/it has |
| 1st plural | mir händ | [miːr hɛnt] | We have |
| 2nd plural | ihr händ | [iːr hɛnt] | You have |
| 3rd plural | si händ | [ziː hɛnt] | They have |
In the past tense, the verb "ha" is replaced by "ha gha" (have had). Here is its conjugation:
| Person | Swiss German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st singular | ich ha gha | [ɪç xaː ɡa] | I have had |
| 2nd singular | du häsch gha | [duː ˈhæʃ ɡa] | You have had |
| 3rd singular | er/sie/es hät gha | [ɛr/siː/ɛs hæːt ɡa] | He/she/it has had |
| 1st plural | mir händ gha | [miːr hɛnt ɡa] | We have had |
| 2nd plural | ihr händ gha | [iːr hɛnt ɡa] | You have had |
| 3rd plural | si händ gha | [ziː hɛnt ɡa] | They have had |
Interesting facts about Swiss culture[edit | edit source]
Did you know that Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh? Swiss German is the most spoken language in Switzerland, with more than 5 million speakers!
Swiss people are known for being punctual and reliable. In Swiss culture, time is considered a precious commodity, and being late is seen as rude and disrespectful. So if you have an appointment with a Swiss person, be sure to arrive on time!
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
To illustrate the use of "have" in context, here's a dialogue between two friends:
- Person 1: Haasch du mis Neus Huus gsä? (Have you seen my new house?)
- Person 2: Ja, ich ha s gseh, es isch sehr schön! (Yes, I've seen it, it's very beautiful!)
- Person 1: Hesch scho ghört, dass mer im Dorf es neus Restaurant ha? (Have you heard that there is a new restaurant in the village?)
- Person 2: Ja, ich ha ghört, dass es sehr guet si söll. Mir chönd jo mal zämegah und es useprobiera! (Yes, I've heard that it should be very good. We could go together and try it out!)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In conclusion, "have" in Swiss German is translated as "ha" or "händ" and can be used as both an auxiliary and main verb. We have seen its different conjugations in the present and past tenses and given some examples to illustrate its meaning.
To improve your Swiss German Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Impressive work on finishing this lesson! Explore these additional pages to enhance your understanding: Pronouns & Plurals.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]