The Languages of Zug — conclusion

Conclusion of Chapter I

German is the official language of the canton of Zug and Swiss German its spoken language, but English has become the working language of its international economy. The first English speakers came with the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company in 1866, but English became important only after the Second World War, with the arrival of American and British holding companies and of the commodity traders. The growth of the foreign population, which reached about 30 per cent, and the concentration of international companies made English the lingua franca of a large part of the canton's economy. International schools, English-speaking churches, clubs and media form a parallel infrastructure that makes it possible to live in Zug without German. The domains of the two languages overlap and move towards each other. Chapter II examines how far English has entered the law, the courts and the administration of the canton.

For general information only. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice, does not replace advice on an individual case and creates no lawyer-client relationship. It reflects the legal position as of September 2025.

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