ENGLISH
REFERENCE

swiss

n. C / U
A2 Elementary US //ˈswɪs// swiss Dialect

n. the people who come from Switzerland. You can also use this word to talk about the specific language or style of the country.

n. the people of Switzerland collectively. When referring to individuals, it is typically used as an adjective or in the plural form 'the Swiss'.


SIMPLE

The Swiss are famous for making high-quality watches.

CONTEXTUAL

During the international conference, the Swiss remained neutral on the proposed trade agreement.

COMPLEX

While the Swiss are often associated with financial services, their contributions to precision engineering and humanitarian diplomacy are equally significant on the global stage.

Origin

Adopted from Middle French Suisse in circa 1515, alongside the form Switzer directly loaned from German.

Usage

Usually functions as a collective plural noun when preceded by 'the'. To refer to a single person, use 'a Swiss person' or 'a Swiss man/woman' rather than 'a Swiss'.

Pitfall

He is a Swiss.He is Swiss.When referring to a single person's nationality, use the word as an adjective without an article, or say 'a Swiss person'.

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