Swiss Passport

Question 288 of 350 · The four national languages

What does the word Röstigraben mean?

Was bedeutet das Wort Röstigraben?

Correct answer: A

  1. Athe cultural boundary between German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerlanddie kulturelle Grenze zwischen der deutschsprachigen und der französischsprachigen Schweiz
  2. Bthe Rhone Valleydas Rhonetal
  3. Cthe Aare Gorgedie Aareschlucht
  4. Dthe border between Switzerland and Germanydie Grenze zwischen der Schweiz und Deutschland

Why

The Röstigraben is not a real ditch. The word describes cultural differences between German-speaking Switzerland and Romandie. It is named after the German-Swiss dish Rösti.

Common mistakes

D: the border between Switzerland and Germany
The border with Germany is a national border, not a language or cultural boundary within Switzerland.
B: the Rhone Valley
The Rhone Valley is a real valley in Valais, not the Röstigraben.

Topic

Language regions and the Röstigraben

Each national language has its region. German-speaking Switzerland is in the north, the centre and the east. French-speaking Switzerland in the west is called Romandie or Welschland. In Ticino and in some southern valleys of Graubünden people speak Italian. Romansh is spoken only in parts of Graubünden.

Switzerland at a glance · The four national languages

Sources

Official question of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.