Essential real estate vocabulary
The real estate sector, in Switzerland as well as internationally, relies on specific terminology that is essential to master in order to communicate effectively. Whether you are a real estate agent, investor, or developer, knowing the vocabulary opens up new perspectives. It will not only allow you to communicate more easily with your partners, clients, and colleagues abroad, but also to present your projects with confidence and professionalism. In an increasingly globalized market, this skill becomes a genuine asset for expanding your network and seizing new opportunities.
Here are the essential vocabulary basics to know, organized by theme:
Action verbs related to the real estate sector
| French | English | German |
|---|---|---|
| Faire une demande de permis de construire | To apply for a building permit | Eine Baugenehmigung beantragen |
| Construire | To build | Bauen |
| Acheter un appartement | To buy a flat / apartment | Eine Wohnung kaufen |
| Visiter une maison | To view a house | Ein Haus besichtigen |
| Emménager | To move in | Einziehen |
| Déménager | To move out | Ausziehen |
| Rénover | To renovate | Renovieren |
| Louer une chambre | To rent a room | Ein Zimmer mieten |
| Vendre | To sell | Verkaufen |
| Signer un contrat | To sign a contract | Einen Vertrag unterschreiben |
| Sous-louer | To sublet | Untervermieten |
The stakeholders involved in a real estate project
| French | English | German |
|---|---|---|
| Artisan maçon | Builder / Mason | Maurer |
| Agence immobilière | Real estate agency | Immobilienagentur |
| Expert foncier | Land surveyor / Property valuer | Grundstücksexperte |
| Propriétaire / logeur | Landlord | Vermieter |
| Propriétaire | Owner | Eigentümer |
| Promoteur immobilier | Property developer | Immobilienentwickler |
| Locataire | Tenant | Mieter |
Types of properties
| French | English | German |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Rental | Miete |
| Logement | Accommodation / Housing | Unterkunft |
| Appartement | Apartment / Flat | Wohnung |
| Bâtiment | Building | Gebäude |
| Chantier | Building site | Baustelle |
| Château | Castle | Schloss |
| Copropriété | Co-ownership | Miteigentum |
| Propriété (le bien) | Property / Real estate asset | Eigentum / Grundstück |
| Domicile | Home | Zuhause |
| Maison | House | Haus |
| Terrain | Land | Grundstück |
| Plan | Map | Plan / Karte |
| Demeure | Estate / Residence | Anwesen |
| Locaux | Premises | Räumlichkeiten |
| Résidence principale / secondaire | Primary / Second home | Hauptwohnsitz / Zweitwohnsitz |
| Écurie | Stable | Stall |
| Logement social | Social housing | Sozialwohnung |
| Terrain non constructible | Land not suitable for construction | Nicht bebaubares Grundstück |
| Superficie | Surface area | Fläche |
Legal agreements and administrative documents
| French | English | German |
|---|---|---|
| Accord | Agreement | Vereinbarung |
| Attribution de juridiction | Jurisdiction clause | Gerichtsstandvereinbarung |
| Acte de vente | Deed of sale | Kaufvertrag |
| Attestation de propriété | Certificate of ownership | Eigentumsnachweis |
| Attestation de domicile | Proof of address | Wohnsitzbestätigung |
| Bail | Lease | Mietvertrag |
| État des lieux | Inventory / Inspection report | Übergabeprotokoll |
| Lu et approuvé | Read and approved | Gelesen und genehmigt |
| Caution | Security deposit | Kaution |
| Clause particulière | Special clause | Besondere Klausel |
| Bilan immobilier | Property appraisal / Survey | Gutachten / Immobilienbilanz |
| Cession de propriété | Transfer of ownership | Eigentumsübertragung |
Payments and income
| French | English | German |
|---|---|---|
| Acompte | Deposit / Down payment | Anzahlung |
| Frais | Fees | Gebühren |
| Hors taxes (HT) | Excluding VAT | Ohne Mehrwertsteuer |
| Emprunt immobilier | Mortgage / Home loan | Hypothek |
| Valeur locative | Rental value | Mietwert |
| Crédit immobilier | Mortgage loan | Hypothekarkredit |
| Remboursement mensuel | Monthly repayment | Monatliche Rückzahlung |
| Taxe foncière | Property tax | Grundsteuer |
| Taxe d’habitation | Residence tax | Wohnsteuer |
| Loyer | Rent | Miete |
| Taux de TVA | VAT rate | Mehrwertsteuersatz |
Mastering real estate vocabulary is a genuine professional asset in an increasingly internationalized Swiss market. Being able to negotiate, present a property, or understand a contract in another language enhances your credibility and effectiveness.
To continue expanding your professional toolkit, check out our blog post on Marketing Vocabulary for Professionals and boost your international business opportunities.