Hello. I am really hoping to get a memorial tattoo for my Father in the native tounge of our last name. I always knew it was Swiss, but recently discovered it is actually Swiss-German.

I hoping someone could help me translate a few phrases from english to accurate swiss german. I'm learning that the language is sometimes difficult to translate, so any help at all would be very much appreciated!!

Forever in my heart / In my heart forever

Forever with me / With me always


Thank you in advance!!

Swiss-German is not one language, but a set of usually only spoken dialects. Most Swiss would therefore get the tattoo in Standard German (although I mainly see English or Chinese tattoos here...). But if you really want to write it the way your dad used to speak, we would need to know where exactly he was from as the text would be significantly different.

Forever in my heart / In my heart forever

Forever with me / With me always

für immer i mim Härz / i mim Härz für immer

für immer mit mir / mit mir (für) immer

These are incomplete sentences which would at least raise an eyebrow from a German speaker... "mit mir immer" is not what you want for sure.

Not sure what tattoo you are going for, your dad's name or face? you could have a sentence around it like: "Ich trage Dich auf ewig im Herzen" - I carry you in my heart forever.

I would suggest:


für immer i mim Härz / i mim Härz für immer

für immer bi mir / bi mir für immer

bi mir means "with me" - mit mir rather means "along with me".

for goodness sake don't rush into this. Your Dad would not want something meaningless or wrong permanently marking you.

What about something simple like the date of his birth? Or date of his passing? Or just remember him another way?

I like Calvin's translation. Sounds a little poetic and reflects perfectly those few English words in the OP's post.
There's no need for fully rounded up sentences here. It is meant for a thought. A memory. Something which will last. Swiss German can sound so nice sometimes.

"Mit mir immer" sounds not poetic but dyslexic to me. And there is not exactly a fine line between the two. Defenitely worth to think twice if you want it as a tattoo.

... or are you sarcastic and I am once again not getting the humor?

It has to be with the "für" of course. Mit mir für immer.

Thank you to everyone for your input!! It's definitely not something I'm rushing into, I'm just searching for ideas. I don't want to go into detail like a portrait, because personally I just don't trust tattoo artists enough for that. Also, I want something more original than just birth/death dates.

My father did not actually live in Switzerland or speak the tounge, but our last name however originates from there. I thought it would be very nice to have a meaningful sentence in the language that our name belongs to. Unfortunatly I cannot find exactly which part of the Country it originates, all I know right now is that the meaning of it is fence, or boundary line.

Thank you all again for your suggestions! I will definitely put more research into it before I make any final decisions!!

wouldn't it be nicer to have something that your dad actually said sometimes rather than some phrase you found on an internet forum?

if you're so interested in your Swiss roots then research research research.....

Something he used to say is actually a good idea, thank you!! We have a huge family history book I just have to find out where it's hiding, it will be a good starting point for my research. Thanks again, I really appreciate your thoughts.

Hello All,

I'm not trying to beat a dead horse here, just exploring more options to work with!
I'm wondering if the German words for 'Father' and 'Daughter' differ from the written Swiss German words?

Don't forget I'm not making any quick or rash decisions, just looking for some help.

Thanks in advance!!

nope, no difference in Swiss German, depends on dialect however, spoken these words are pronounced slightly different.

and the chosen word could be different depending on region and other factors.

I fail to see how a tattoo with a word you've never used in your life to refer to your father would achieve what I believe you're trying to achieve. Thankfully, you're not rushing

Though we are all trustworthy, I wouldn't tattoo a translation found on the forum. Maybe a full portrait of a Montreux castle on your back would be okay..

Maybeyou tell us his last name... we could try to find out the origin/region of the last name

Or a plate of rösti maybe

Im so sorry this is my fris time for this site Im really need translate of "was machsch dann jetz! bewirbsch di wiedr odr gasch!" can some one please let me out of it thx guys ,for you kindness

Please pease please