If you work or live in Switzerland, you will read terms like Pensionskasse, AHV or Säule 3a in almost every pension document. English texts translate them in different ways: is the AHV called OASI, and is a Pensionskasse a «pension fund»? This Swiss Pension glossary trainer helps you learn the correct English terms. It covers 170+ Swiss pension terms with German and English side by side:
- Multiple choice (you pick the right translation from four options),
- Typing (you write the translation yourself), and
- Flashcards (you reveal the answer and rate yourself).
The terms in the Swiss Pension Glossary cover the three-pillar system, OASI (AHV), the Pensionskasse, pillar 3a, withdrawals and taxes. You can repeat the terms you missed at the end. Below the trainer, you find all terms as a table that you can use as a reference.
The Swiss Pension Glossary Trainer
Swiss Pension Glossary Terms: German to English
Basics of the Swiss pension system (19 terms)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Dreisäulensystem | three-pillar system |
| 1. Säule | pillar 1 (state provision) |
| 2. Säule | pillar 2 (occupational provision) |
| 3. Säule | pillar 3 (private provision) |
| Säule 3a | pillar 3a (restricted pension plan) |
| Säule 3b | pillar 3b (unrestricted pension plan) |
| Existenzsicherung | safeguarding of basic income |
| gewohnte Lebenshaltung | accustomed standard of living |
| Vorsorgelücke | pension gap |
| Umlageverfahren | pay-as-you-go system |
| BSV | Federal Social Insurance Office (FSIO) |
| versicherte Person | insured person |
| obligatorisch | mandatory |
| freiwillig | voluntary |
| UVG | accident insurance (UVG) |
| Kapitaldeckungsverfahren | capital funded system |
| Generationenvertrag | intergenerational contract |
| Umverteilung | redistribution |
| Solidaritätsprinzip | solidarity principle |
Pillar 1: OASI (AHV) (33 terms)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| AHV | OASI (AHV) |
| IV | disability insurance (DI) |
| Ergänzungsleistungen (EL) | supplementary benefits |
| Erwerbsersatzordnung (EO) | loss of earnings compensation |
| Altersrente | old-age pension |
| Hinterlassenenrente | survivors' pension |
| Vollrente | full pension |
| Teilrente | partial pension |
| Maximalrente | maximum old-age pension |
| Minimalrente | minimum old-age pension |
| Ausgleichskasse | OASI office |
| Beitragsjahr | contribution year |
| Beitragslücke | contribution gap |
| Beitragspflicht | contribution obligation |
| fehlende Beiträge nachzahlen | pay missing contributions retroactively |
| IK-Auszug | individual account (IA) statement |
| Erziehungs- und Betreuungsgutschriften | parenting and care credits |
| Referenzalter | reference age |
| Rentenvorbezug | taking the pension early |
| Rentenaufschub | deferral of the pension |
| AHV-pflichtiges Einkommen | income subject to OASI contributions |
| Arbeitnehmende | employees |
| Selbständigerwerbende | self-employed persons |
| Nichterwerbstätige | non-employed persons |
| Zivilstand | marital status |
| vollständige Beitragsdauer | full contribution period |
| massgebendes durchschnittliches Jahreseinkommen | average relevant annual income |
| Rentenskala 43/44 | pension scale 43/44 |
| Plafonierung der Ehepaarrenten | capping of couples' pensions |
| Verwitwetenzuschlag | widowed persons' supplement |
| Einkommenssplitting | income splitting |
| erster / zweiter Versicherungsfall | first / second insured event |
| Versicherungspflicht | mandatory insurance |
Pillar 2: pension fund (Pensionskasse) (34 terms)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Pensionskasse | pension fund |
| Vorsorgeeinrichtung | occupational benefits institution |
| BVG | BVG (Federal Law on Occupational Retirement, Survivors' and Disability Pension Plans) |
| überobligatorisch | non-mandatory |
| Eintrittsschwelle | entry threshold |
| koordinierter Lohn | coordinated salary |
| Koordinationsabzug | coordination deduction |
| Altersgutschrift | retirement credits |
| Altersguthaben | retirement assets |
| Umwandlungssatz | conversion rate |
| Rente | pension |
| Kapitalbezug | lump-sum withdrawal |
| Einkauf (in die Pensionskasse) | buy-in |
| Austrittsleistung | termination benefits |
| Freizügigkeitsguthaben | vested benefits |
| Freizügigkeitskonto | vested benefits account |
| vergessene Freizügigkeitsguthaben | forgotten vested benefits |
| Deckungsgrad | coverage ratio |
| Pensionskassenausweis | pension fund statement |
| Arbeitgeberbeiträge | employer contributions |
| Arbeitnehmerbeiträge | employee contributions |
| Teilzeitangestellte | part-time employees |
| Invalidenrente | disability pension |
| versicherter Lohn | insured salary |
| maximaler BVG-Jahreslohn | maximum BVG annual salary |
| Sparbeitrag | savings contribution |
| projiziertes Altersguthaben | projected retirement assets |
| gesetzlicher Mindestumwandlungssatz | statutory minimum conversion rate |
| Einkaufspotenzial | buy-in potential |
| Todesfall- und Invaliditätsleistungen | death and disability benefits |
| Beschäftigungsgrad | employment level |
| Vorsorgeplan | pension plan |
| Freizügigkeitseinrichtung | vested benefits institution |
| Anmeldefrist (Kapitalbezug) | notice period |
Pillar 3a: private pension plan (32 terms)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| 3a-Anbieter | 3a provider |
| Voraussetzungen | eligibility |
| 3a-Konto eröffnen | open a pillar 3a account |
| Vorsorgestiftung | pension foundation |
| Vorsorgefonds | pillar 3a investment fund |
| Vorsorgeguthaben 3a | pillar 3a assets |
| Sparstrategie | saving strategy |
| Anlagestrategie | investment strategy |
| Aktien | equities |
| Obligationen | bonds |
| Immobilien | real estate |
| Liquidität | cash |
| Zinssatz | interest rate |
| Mindesteinlage | minimum deposit |
| Wiederanlage | reinvestment |
| Dauerauftrag | standing order |
| Einzahlung | deposit |
| Beitrag | contribution |
| Maximalbetrag | maximum annual contribution |
| 3a-Beitragslücke | 3a contribution gap |
| rückwirkende Einzahlung | retroactive contributions |
| Übertrag | transfer in |
| mehrere 3a-Konten | multiple pillar 3a accounts |
| Steuerbescheinigung 3a | pillar 3a tax certificate |
| zu viel einbezahlt | excess 3a payments |
| 3a-Konto auflösen | close a pillar 3a account |
| Kontoinhaber | account holder |
| 3a-Wertschriftenlösung | pillar 3a securities solution |
| 3a-Police | pillar 3a insurance policy |
| Anlagehorizont | investment horizon |
| Risikotoleranz | risk tolerance |
| Opportunitätskosten | opportunity costs |
Withdrawal (Bezug) of pension assets (20 terms)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Bezug | withdrawal |
| Auszahlung | payout |
| ordentlicher Bezug | regular withdrawal |
| Vorbezug | early withdrawal |
| Bezugsgründe | permissible reasons for early withdrawal |
| Wohneigentum erwerben oder bauen | acquiring or building owner-occupied residential property |
| Hypothek zurückzahlen | repaying the mortgage |
| Einkauf in die 2. Säule | buying into a tax-exempt pension fund (2nd pillar) |
| Selbständigkeit aufnehmen | starting self-employment |
| endgültiges Verlassen der Schweiz | leaving Switzerland permanently |
| volle IV-Rente | receiving a full disability pension |
| Todesfall | in the event of death |
| Begünstigte | beneficiaries |
| Begünstigtenordnung | order of beneficiaries |
| BVV 3 | BVV 3 |
| Aufschub des Bezugs | deferral of withdrawal |
| gestaffelter Bezug (Töpfli) | staggered withdrawal |
| Verpfändung | pledging |
| Auszahlungsformular | payout form |
| Frühpensionierung | early retirement |
Taxes and investing (22 terms)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| steuerbares Einkommen | taxable income |
| abziehbar | deductible from taxable income |
| Steuerabzug | tax deduction |
| Steuerersparnis | tax savings |
| Vermögenssteuer | wealth tax |
| Einkommenssteuer | income tax |
| steuerbefreit | tax-exempt |
| reduzierter Steuersatz bei Auszahlung | taxed at a reduced rate when paid out |
| Steuererklärung | tax return |
| Steuerbehörden | tax authorities |
| Produktkosten | product fees |
| Verwaltungsgebühr | administration fee |
| Jahresgebühr | annual fee |
| Rendite | return |
| Inflation | inflation |
| Kryptoanteil | crypto exposure |
| Indexfonds | index fund |
| Anlage-, Steuer- oder Rechtsberatung | investment, tax or legal advice |
| Zinseszins | compound interest |
| Steuerprogression | tax progression |
| Steuerstufe | tax bracket |
| Bruttolohn | gross salary |
Moving abroad: arriving in and leaving Switzerland (12 terms)
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Zuzug | arriving in Switzerland |
| Wegzug | leaving Switzerland |
| freiwillige AHV/IV | voluntary OASI/DI |
| Personenfreizügigkeitsabkommen (FZA) | Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) |
| Barauszahlung bei Kleinstguthaben | small-balance cash-out rule |
| Freizügigkeitsgesetz (FZG) | Federal Act on Vested Benefits (FZG) |
| Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen (DBA) | double taxation agreement (DBA) |
| Quellensteuer | withholding tax |
| Kapitalbezugssteuer | capital withdrawal tax |
| Wohnkanton | canton of residence |
| Sitz der Vorsorgestiftung | seat of the pension foundation |
| EU/EFTA | EU/EFTA |
Frequently asked questions to the Swiss Pension Glossary
What is the English word for Pensionskasse?
Pensionskasse translates to «pension fund». The term only refers to the occupational pension fund in pillar 2. A fund in pillar 3a is a «pillar 3a investment fund»
What does OASI mean?
OASI stands for Old-Age and Survivors’ Insurance and is the English term for the AHV, the first pillar of the Swiss pension system.
How do you say Säule 3a in English?
Säule 3a is called «pillar 3a» in English, or more fully «pillar 3a (restricted pension plan)». Pillar 3b is the unrestricted pension plan.
How were the translations validated?
We compared the terms with official English texts of Swiss authorities wherever such texts exist. The FSIO writes OASI instead of AVS and uses the term reference age, and its page on occupational pension plans covers the second pillar. The portal ch.ch calls pillar 3a a restricted pension plan and pillar 3b an unrestricted pension plan, and the OPSC uses English terms for the supervision of pension funds. We also compared the terms with the English pages of Swiss banks and pension providers. Where sources differ, we chose the term that is clearest in context. The English terms are working translations for orientation and not legal translations, because Swiss federal law is only binding in German, French and Italian.
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