German is the largest first language in Switzerland by number of native speakers. Swiss German varieties are spoken by most German-speaking Swiss people in everyday conversation, while Standard German is used in formal writing, education, and many official contexts.
Switzerland has four national languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. German is dominant in the northern, central, and eastern parts of the country, whereas French is concentrated in western Switzerland and Italian mainly in Ticino and parts of Graubünden.
A common mix-up is treating Swiss German as exactly the same as Standard German. Swiss German refers to a group of Alemannic dialects with noticeable differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Romansh, although spoken by a small minority, is also constitutionally recognized as a national language.
The language distribution reflects Switzerland’s federal structure and its historic links with neighboring Germany, Austria, France, and Italy.