Geneva, Switzerland — City Information
City Facts
- Location
- Geneva canton, western Switzerland.
- Time Zone
- GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
- Electricity
- 220 volts AC, 50Hz; three-pin plugs are most commonly used.
- Average January Temperatures
- 2.6°C (36°F).
- Average July Temperatures
- 23°C (74°F).
- Average Annual Rainfall
- 1015mm (39.6 inches).
- Language
- Geneva belongs to la Suisse romande (French-speaking Switzerland). While French is the official language, English, German, Italian and Spanish are widely spoken. English is the official language of most multinational companies and international groups based in Geneva, where nearly 100,000 English speakers are based. Nevertheless, attempts to speak French are appreciated by the locals. The Genevois tend to speak relatively slowly, with a lilting accent. Differences from standard French in grammar and vocabulary are particularly accentuated in the spoken language. Numbers are slightly different, as well: seventy (soixante-dix in standard French) is septante in Swiss French; ninety (quatre-vingt dix in standard French) is nonante in Swiss French. In Geneva, the verb dîner means to eat lunch and not dinner. The national languages in Switzerland are German (70%), French (19%), Italian (10%) and Romansch (1%). Phrases Yes - Oui No - Non Hello - Bonjour Goodbye - Au revoir Please - S’il vous plaît Thank you - Merci My name is … - Je m’appelle … How are you? - Comment ça va? I’m very well - Ça va bien I feel ill - Je ne me sens pas bien How much does it cost? - Combien est-ce que ça coûte? Do you speak English? - Est-ce que vousparlez anglais? I don’t understand - Je ne comprends pas Where is …? - Où est …? Entrance - Entrée Exit - Sortie Danger - Danger Open - Ouvert Closed - Fermé Toilets - Toilettes Doctor - Médecin Hotel - Hôtel Restaurant - Restaurant Beer - Bière Wine - Vin Menu - Menu Today - Aujourd’hui Tomorrow - Demain Monday - Lundi Tuesday - Mardi Wednesday - Mercredi Thursday - Jeudi Friday - Vendredi Saturday - Samedi Sunday - Dimanche One - Un (Une) Two - Deux Three - Trois Four - Quatre Five - Cinq Six - Six Seven - Sept Eight - Huit Nine - Neuf Ten - Dix Twenty - Vingt Thirty - Trente Forty - Quarante Fifty - Cinquante Sixty - Soixante Seventy - Septante Eighty - Quatre-vingt Ninety - Nonante One Hundred - Cent One Thousand - Mille
Cost of Living
| 1.00 GBP = 1.31 CHF |
| 1.00 USD = 0.81 CHF |
| 1.00 EUR = 1.15 CHF |
| Currency conversion rates as of 19 July 2011 |
Special Events
International Motor Show
March
Palexpo
Website: www.salon-auto.ch
Music Festival
June
Many venues throughout the city.
Bol d’Or Regatta
June
Yachting race on Lake Geneva.
Port Noir
Website: www.boldor.ch
Cinélac, open-air film festival
July-August
Port Noir, Lake Geneva
Website: www.cinelac.ch
Musiques en Eté (Musical Summer)
Live concerts and recitals.
July-September
Various venues throughout the city
National Day
August
Celebrations, fireworks, bonfire and dancing.
Reformation Wall and Parc des Bastions
Fêtes de Genève
August
Street parades, street theater and fireworks.
Throughout the city
Website: www.fetes-de-geneve.ch
Cinéma Tout Ecran
Annual international film festival.
October-November
Various venues
Website: www.cinema-tout-ecran.ch
Geneva Fair, Ideal Home Exhibition
Mid November
Palexpo
Website: www.foiredegeneve.ch
Fête de l’Escalade
December
Independence celebrations and parade commemorating defeat of the Savoyards in 1602, and the Course de l’Escalade (the Escalade Run).
Throughout the city
Website: www.escalade.ch
