Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. German is the most widely spoken, used as a first language by about 63% of the population.
German became an official language during the Middle Ages when the region was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was used in official documents, correspondence, and schools.
After the Swiss Confederation formed in 1291, German retained official status. The other languages gained recognition later: French in 1848, Italian in 1938, and Romansh in 1996.
Today, German is the official language in northern and eastern Switzerland, as well as in the canton of Graubünden. It is also the most commonly spoken language in the cantons of Bern, Solothurn, and Basel-Landschaft.