Zurich and Lucerne?

Question

Switzerland having four official languages, which language is spoken most in these two places? Will I get by on my French? Please provide as much as you know. Thanks!

Answer 1

French in the West only.  The official language is German.

Answer 2

German is by far the most commonly used language in Switzerland. It's the primary language of Zurich, Lucerene and the majority of cities. Many people, especially younger ones, speak French & English fluently, so you can probably get by, but you should try to learn a few basic phrases in German to be polite and so that you can understand the signs, menus & the like. Some restaurants do have multilingual menus.

French is spoken in the "Suisse Romande," the western part of the country. Four cantons (states) are French-speaking: Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel and Vaud. Three cantons are bilingual: in Bern, Fribourg and Valais both French and German are official languages.

Italian is spoken in Ticino and four southern valleys of Canton Graubünden. This is the gorgeous area on the border of Italy....

Rumantsch is spoken in the only trilingual canton, Graubünden. The other two languages spoken there are German and Italian. You really, seriously have no reason to learn this language.

This site will definitely help you out:

http://www.fodors.com/language/

Have an awesome trip. Switzerland is a beautiful, delightful country.

Answer 3

Those are in a mostly German part, but there are many trilingual and multilingual people there.  Just ask your Parlez vous francais first to be polite.