Abbreviations deciphered: nothing is more frustrating than listening to a conversation and suddenly losing the thread because of a mysterious abbreviation or acronym. Here's an alphabetical list of often-heard Swiss-German shorthand.Did you see GC on SF2 last night? He belongs to TV-Urswil. She gets IV since the accident. He's away doing his UOS.These kinds of sentences are annoying for us foreigners. We understand German (or French or Italian) fairly well, but what on earth are these people calking about? The same thing happens when we read a newspaper article that refers to EDA and DEZA or skim a report peppered with odd groups of letters like z.B. and d.h. Hopefully, the list below will help to solve a few puzzles. AG = Aktiengesellschaft Refers to a company that is traded on the stock market. In French and Italian, the "A" stands for anonymous. French: SA, Italian: SA AHV = Alters- und Hinterlassenversicherung This is the Swiss old age insurance that both employer and employee contribute to. French: AVS, Italian: AVS BAG : Bundesamt fur Gesundheltswesen The Federal Ministry of Health is referred to as "Bahg" not the B-A-G. French: OFSP, Italian: UFSP UFSP Underground Facilities Signature Program BIZ = Berufsberatung- und Informationszentrum Refers to one of the publicly funded career counselling centres that can be found throughout Switzerland, French: OP, Italian: OSP BSV = Bundesamt fur Sozialversicherung The Federal Social Insurance Department is responsible for retirement pensions and other types of social welfare payments. French: OFAS OFAS Overseas Flight Assistance Service . Italian: UFAS UFAS Uniform Federal Accessibility Standard (Americans with Disabilities Act) UFAS Union Française des Aides-Soignants(tes) UFAS Unsuitable for Army Service BUWAL = Bundesamt fur Umwelt, Wald und Landschaft Like BAG, BUWAL is referred to as a word, not a list of letters. The Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape remains very active, despite recent budget cuts. French: OFEFP. Italian: UFAFP BVG = Berufliche Vorsorge Gesetz This is how German-speaking Switzerland refers to the compulsory company pension funds to which both employer and employee contribute. Also called "the second pillar" of retirement. French: LPP, Italian: LPP CS = Credit Suisse The bank calls itself CS in all the Swiss languages and in English. CVP CVP central venous pressure. CVP abbr. central venous pressure CVP central venous pressure. CVP Central venous pressure, see there = Christlich-demokratische Volkspartei The Christian Democratic People's Party Several countries have political parties that use the name "Christian Democratic People's Party."
d.h. = das heisst Or "in other words Adv. 1. in other words - otherwise stated; "in other words, we are broke" put differently ." Used in German where we might use i.e. DEZA = Direktion fur Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit. The Swiss Agency, for Development and Cooperation is the branch of the Swiss foreign ministry that promotes and carries out projects to help developing countries. French: DDC See VESA DDC. , Italian: DSC DRS = (Radio der) deutschen und rathoromanischen Schweiz The radio service for German- and Romansch-speaking Switzerland. The French-language counterpart is RSR RSR Regular sinus rhythm, see there ; the Italian, RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) Ailments of the hands, neck, back and eyes due to computer use. The remedy for RSI is frequent breaks which should include stretching or yoga postures. . EDA = Eidgenossisches Departement fur auswartige Angelegenheiten The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs is currently headed by Federal Councilor coun·cil·or also coun·cil·lor n. A member of a council, as one convened to advise a governor. See Usage Note at council. coun , Micheline Calmy-Rey. French: DFAE DFAE Département Fédéral des Affaires Étrangères (French: Federal Department of Foreign Affairs; Switzerland) DFAE Director of Facilities Engineering , Italian: DFAE EG = Erdgeschoss You will see EG on an elevator button, meaning "ground floor." And don't forget UG, which stands for Untergeschoss or basement. ETH = Eidgenossiche Technischehochschule Literally, this translates into "technical high school," but in fact it refers to one of the federal institutes of technology, the ETH in Zurich. The French-language equivalent is the EPF EPF early pregnancy factor. in Lausanne. EvB = Erklarung von Bern This NGO (whoops! non-governmental organisation) works to promote more equitable relations between the world's haves and have-nots. French: DB, Italian: DB EVP = Evangelische Volkspartei The Evangelical People's Party The Evangelical People's Party (Dutch: Evangelische Volkspartij, EVP) was a minor progressive Christian political party in the Netherlands. History The EVP was founded in March 1981 by members of the main christian-democratic CDA, which were united in the group is a small voice in Swiss politics. French: PEV, Italian: PPE FCB = Fussball Club Basel Anyone living in Switzerland who got through the 2003 Champions League games without noticing that FCB is Basel's main soccer club must have had his or her head in the sand. Particularly when FCB played ManU (and if you don't know what that stands for, you're really out of it!) FDP FDP fibrin (fibrinogen) degradation product. = Freisinnig Demokratische Partei Literally translated, this right-of-centre, pro-big-business party calls itself the freethinking free·think·er n. One who has rejected authority and dogma, especially in religious thinking, in favor of rational inquiry and speculation. free democratic party in German. The "R" in their French-language name stands for "radical," while in Italian they manage to be both liberal and radical. Think, rather, Conservative-Lite. French: PRD PRD progressive retinal degeneration. , Italian: PLRT FIFA FIFA International Association Football Federation [French Fédération Internationale de Football Association] FIFA n abbr (= Fédération Internationale de Football Association) → FIFA f = Federation Internationale de Football Associations This apparent mix of French and English is usually pronounced "fifa," rather than referred to by the four letters of its name. Since it sponsors international soccer competitions, you'll be hearing about it with increasing frequency as the 2006 World Cup in Germany approaches. FMH = Foederatio Medicorum Helveticorum. One of the chief responsibilities of the Swiss Medical Association is to supervise the education of medical interns after they've completed their state examinations. You'll see the letters FMH after the names of doctors who have been certified by the association. GC = Grasshopper Club Zurich's top-level soccer club. GP = Grune Partei Switzerland's Greens have 10 representatives in the Parliament's Lower House, six of them women. French: PE; les Verts, Italian: i Verdi GSoA = Gruppe fur eine Schweiz ohne Armee Founded in 1982, this political organization was not taken seriously until it mobilized over 1 million people (or 35.6% of Swiss voters) to vote in favour of Switzerland eliminating its army. Since then, GSoA has continued as an army watchdog and a peace movement. French: GSsA, Italian: GSsE HEKS = Hilfswerk der Evangelischen Kirchen Schweiz This Protestant-oriented nonprofit organization does a great deal of development and charity work in the Third World. It also promotes the integration of asylum-seekers and immigrants into Swiss society. French: EPER EPER European Pollutant Emission Register IP = Integrierte Produktion Food products marked "IP" are not organically grown but are nevertheless produced with special attention to the environment. Farmers in Switzerland receive government subsidies based on how environmentally friendly their agriculture is. IV = Invalidenversicherung This abbreviation refers to the disability insurance fund that both employer and employee contribute to. Someone who "gets IV" receives a disability pension. French: AI, Italian: AI Jh = Jahrhundert or century A German encyclopedia may refer to the 19Jh, as an English-language reference book might abbreviate the 19c. KMU = Kleine und Mittelere Unternehmungen This is a shorthand reference, often used in business reports, to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A certain politician or pending regulation be perceived as pro- or anti-KMU, for example. Or a consulting company may advertise KMU business services. KAPO = Kantonspolizei This reference to various cantonal police forces comes up frequently in newspaper articles. The acronym KRIPO KRIPO Kriminal Polizei (criminal police, Germany) (for criminal police) is familiar to anyone who watches the German-language "Krimis," or detective stories, on television. The French or Italian equivalent would be "POCA," but it doesn't seem to be widely used. LID = Landwirtschaftlicher Informationsdienst This PR service for farmers offers excellent information on all aspects of agriculture in Switzerland, and its graphics are striking. Check out the website: www.landwirtschaft.ch. French: ICA, Italian: SIA Sia (sī`ə) or Siaha (sī`əhə), in the Bible, family returned from the Exile. SIA - Serial Interface Adaptor LKW = Lastkraftwagen Just another way to say truck or lorry. Sometimes used with PKW, Personenkraftwagen, which is simply an automobile. m.E. = meines Erachtens People write this in a report when they want to make it clear that they are expressing their own opinion. In English you might write, "As I see it" or "to my mind". MWSt = Mehrwertsteuer The British call it VAT or value-added tax, the Americans just call it sales tax. In any case, it's included in Swiss prices and mentioned on your receipts: "Inkl. MWSt." The tax on food products is 2.4%; on most other items, it's 7.6%. NZZ = None Zurcher Zeitung This Zurich newspaper is considered to be the best written of any in Switzerland. It's a bit dry, perhaps, but its monthly magazine, Folio, is great fun. OP = Operationssaal Referring to the operating theatre of a hospital, OP is often used in references to medical specialties, as in "She's an OP nurse". OR = Obligationenrecht This is the Swiss civil code, which obliges you to follow certain procedures in business. The abbreviation might be used as follows: According to OR, employees have to give two months notice when they quit. OS = Offiziersschule If you choose to become an officer in the Swiss Army, you have to go to officer's school. And before that comes UOS or Unteroffiziersschule, which trains corporals. French: EO, Italian: SU PC = Postcheck You set: this used in references to a PC-Konto, or post office checking account, as in "Pay CHF CHF In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Swiss Franc. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 20.-into PC-Konto 203040-5". PLZ = Postleitzahl This is the Swiss equivalent of a zip code, which is always written before the city: 8052 Zurich, for example. You are often asked to provide your PLZ When filling out Swiss forms. French: NPA (1) (Numbering Plan Area) The Bellcore/Telcordia telephone area code system in use in the U.S., Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and islands in the Caribbean. See NPA code. (2) (Network Professional Association, San Diego, CA, www.npanet. , Italian: NPA QS = Qualitatssicherung A buzzword these days, QS means quality assurance or quality control. You almost can't avoid references in business publications to QS symposia, QS specialists, and so on. RS = Rekrutenschule In the recently revamped Swiss Army, all 20-year-old Swiss men (and any women who want to participate) undergo 21 weeks of basic training or "recruit school." For generations, the RS has been a rite of passage rite of passage n. A ritual or ceremony signifying an event in a person's life indicative of a transition from one stage to another, as from adolescence to adulthood. that Swiss men of all backgrounds share. French: ER, Italian: SR SBB = Schweizedsche Bundesbahn All three abbreviations for the Swiss Federal Railways are marked on the side of its railway cars. French: CFF See Compensatory Financing Facility. , Italian: FFS SD = Schweizer Demokraten Do not be deceived; the party calling itself the "Swiss Democrats" should really call itself the Swiss Extreme Rightists. However, it has no representatives in either the Upper or Lower Houses of Parliament Houses of Parliament: see Westminster Palace. at present. French: DS, Italian: Lega dei Ticinesi (the TI equivalent) SDA SDA abbr. specific dynamic action Serotonin dopamine antagonist (SDA) The newer second-generation antipsychotic drugs, also called atypical antipsychotics. = Schweizerische Depeschenagentur The first Swiss news agency, founded in 1894 and still generating bulletins today. French: ATS, Italian: ATS SF = Schweizer Fernsehen The German-speaking Swiss television stations are SF 1 and 2. SP = Sozialdemokratische Partei Switzerland's social democrats currently hold 52 out of 200 seats in the Lower House of Parliament, more than any other party. But they have the fewest seats (6 out of 46) in the Upper House. French: PS, Italian: PS SPI = Swiss Performance Index The Swiss Performance Index SPI® is Switzerland's most closely followed performance index. It is a dividend-corrected index that includes all SWX Swiss Exchange-traded equity securities of companies domiciled in Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein. A measurement of how well Swiss companies' shares are doing. This and other performance indices of the Swiss securities market are offered by SWX, the Swiss Exchange. SRI = Swiss Radio International It broadcasts in English, German, French, Italian, and Arabic for Swiss around the world and anyone else who wants to listen. Another of its services is swiss-info, a website providing Swiss and international news in nine languages. SVP = Schweizerische Volkspartei This is the party of farmers, small businessmen, and anyone who yearns for "the good old days." Its MPs are the second largest faction in the Lower House, and the party's popularity is growing. The SVPs most controversial MP is billionaire Christoph Blocher, a demagogue dem·a·gogue also dem·a·gog n. 1. A leader who obtains power by means of impassioned appeals to the emotions and prejudices of the populace. 2. A leader of the common people in ancient times. tr.v. who uses the Swiss fear of foreigners to win votes for his party. French: UDC, Italian: UDC TCS = Touring Club Suisse The Touring Club Suisse is a Swiss organisation supplying support for stranded vehicles. It was founded in 1896. External links
This Swiss equivalent of the AAA AAA: see American Automobile Association. (Triple A) A common single-cell battery used in a myriad of electronic devices of all variety. Like its double A (AA) cousin, it provides 1.5 volts of DC power. When used in series, the voltage is multiplied. in the US offers advice on any kind of travel, information about car insurance, help with breakdowns, and more. A similar, but more environmentally friendly version of the organization is the VCS or Verkehrsclub Schweiz. tgl. - taglich Everyday. You are most likely to see this abbreviation on a timetable, along with wo. or wochentlich (weekly). TGV = Train Grande Vitesse The French high-speed train runs non-stop from several Swiss cities to Paris. Even the German-speaking Swiss call it the Teh-Jeh-Veh, with a soft instead of a hard "G" sound. TV = Turnverein Turnverein (t  rn`fərīn), society of a type originated in Prussia by Friedrich Ludwig Jahn.
Thousands of Swiss, young and old, belong to these local sports clubs. u. M. = uber Meer 2000 M. u. M. tells you that something is 2000 metres above sea level. Uni = Universitat Not You-knee, but Oo-knee. Switzerland has 10 cantonal universities, two federal institutes of technology, and seven universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen, Hautes ecoles specializes, or scuole universitarie professionali) usw. = und on weiter And so on. We would probably write "etc." UBS = Union Bank of Switzerland The world's largest private bank, UBS has offices in over 50 countries and 311 branches in Switzerland alone. UEFA UEFA Union of European Football Associations UEFA n abbr (= Union of European Football Associations) → U.E.F.A. = Union of European Football Associations Among other competitions, this soccer organization sponsors the famous Champions League, whose annual winner is considered Europe's best football club. In 2003 it was AC Milano. UNO = United Nations Organization In German, French and Italian, the UN is called the UNO, pronounced like the Spanish word for "one." v. Chr. = vor Christus Just like our BC, AD, which is from the Latin Anno Domini, is used in all the Swiss languages as wall as English. French: av. J.C. Italian: a.C. vgl. = vergleiche Used to mean "compare to something else". In English we'd probably write "see," as in: See Smith's 1997 publication. WM = Weltmeisterschaft The World Championship. You can have a WM in anything, but when a man says those two letters, he is usually talking about soccer. YB = Young Boys Another soccer club with a silly name, this time Bern's top team. Referred to as E-beh, not ypsilon-beh! z.B. = zum Beispiel For example. Used as we would use e.g. z.T. = zum Teil In part or in some cases. Used in sentences like the following: Passengers were z.T. badly injured in the train wreck. z.Z. = zur Zeit Used to mean at this time, presently. He is z.Z. abroad. |
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