How To Say “Cheers!” In 50 Languages

05/30/08  Print This Post Print This Post    65 Comments   Popular   Written by Lisa Lubin
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Feature photo by joeshlabotnik Photo above by tavallai

“Cheers!” is the most important word to learn before you travel to a new country. With Matador’s definitive list, you’ll be toasting new friends in no time.

The ancient Egyptians did it. The ancient Chinese did it. And so did the Greeks.

People around the world have been getting drunk for thousands of years. The act of ‘toasting’ and clinking glasses together has been taking place for so long that the origins of the ritual are quite blurry.

There are many debated theories —the most popular being the noise of ‘clinking’ was to ward off evil spirits. Another tale claims that by crashing glasses together, the libations in each glass would slosh into the other person’s cup, proving that neither was poisoned.

Most commonly the toast translates to ‘good health,’ something we all need after one too many shots.

Candy Is Dandy But liquor Is quicker.- Ogden Nash

When traveling, the act of sharing a libation with a local can help foster international good will. Learning how to say “cheers!” in the local language is important!

Here is an international “cheers!” cheat sheet for you to print out, laminate, tuck into your passport, or copy to your cell phone. Enjoy!

Afrikaans : Gesondheid! : (Ge-sund-hide)

Albanian : Gëzuar! : (Géschuar)

Arabic (Egyptian) : في صحتكم! : (Fee-sa-ha-tak)

Armenian : Armenia : (Gen-ots-it)

Azerbaijani : Afiyët oslun! : (Afeeyet Ohs-lun)

Basque : On egin! : (On egín)

Photo by tatianasapateiro

Bosnian : Živjeli! : (Zhee-vi-lee)

Bulgarian : Наздраве! : (NAZ-dra-vey)

Chinese (Mandarin) : 乾杯! [干杯!] : (Gan BAY)

Chinese : (Cantonese) : (Gom bui)

Czech : Na zdravi : (NAZ-drah vi)

Croatian : Živjeli! : (ZHEE-vi-lee)

Danish : Skål! : (Skol)

Here’s to you and here’s to me, the best of friends we’ll ever be, but if we ever disagree, to hell with you and here’s to me

.

Dutch : Prosit! : (Prowst)

Photo by hzeller

English : Cheers! Bottoms up! Down the hatch! Here’s mud in your eye!

Esperanto : Je via sano! Toston! : (YEH VEE-ah SAH-no/Tóston)

Estonian : Terviseks! : (Ter-vi-seks)

Ethiopian (Amharic) : Letenachin : (L’-TAY-nah-chin)

Farsi : (Ba-sal-a-ma-TEE)

Finnish : Kippis! : (KEEP-us)

Drink is the feast of reason and the flow of soul.–Alexander Pope

French : A Votre Sante! : (Ah Vot-ruh Sahn-tay)

Photo by fihu

Gaelic (Irish) : Sláinte! : (Slawn-che)

German : Prost! : (Prohst)

Greek : στην υγειά σας! : (Stin Eyiassou/Stin Eye-ee-yass-ooh)

Eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart. —Ecclesiastes 9:10

Hawaiian : Okole Maluna! : (Å’kålè ma’luna)

Hebrew : לְחַיִּים!/L’Chaim! : (Le Chy-em)

Hungarian : Egeszsegere! : (Egg-esh Ay-ged-reh)

Italian : Salute! : Cin cin! (Salu-tay/Chin Chin)

Japanese : /Kampai! : (Kam-pie)

Payday came and with it beer. -Rudyard Kipling

Korean : 위하여 (Chukbae) : (Sheet seki yah)

Latvian : Prieka! : (Pree-eh-ka)

Lithuanian i : sveikata! : (Ee sweh-kata)

Luxembourgish : Prost! : (Prohst)

Maltese : Evviva! : (A-vee-va)

The problem with some people is that when they aren’t drunk they’re sober. -William Butler Yeats

Mongolian : Эрүүл мэндийн төлөө! : (Erüül mehdiin tölöö)

Norwegian : Skål! : (Skoal)

Persian : به سلامتی! : (beh salamati)

Photo by janthemanson

Polish Na : zdrowie! : (Naz-droh-vee-ay)

Portuguese : Saúde! : (Sow-ooh-jee)

Romanian : Noroc! : (No-roak)

Russian : Будем здоровы! : (Boo-dem Zdo-ro-vee-eh)

Serbian : Ziveli! : (ZHEE-vi-lee)

Slovak : Na zdravie! : (Naz-drah-vee-ay)

Work is the curse of the drinking class. -Oscar Wilde

Spanish : ¡Salud!/Salut! : (Sah-lud/Sah-lute)

Swedish : Skål! : (Skol)

Thai : ไชโย! : (Chuc-dee)

Turkish : Şerefe! : (Sher-i-feh)

Vietnamese : Chúc sức khoẻ! : (chook-sa-koi-ah)

Yiddish : געזונטערהייט! Zei Gazunt! : (Zye GAH-zoont)

Zulu : Oogy wawa! : (oogee-wawa)

Undoubtedly you will be downing many more drinks in your lifetime – and making many toasts to international friends. Cheers!

Know how to say “Cheers!” in a language that’s not on the list? Please leave a comment below!

Community Connection!

Check out Matador’s highly scientific rankings of the world’s Top 10 Rooftop Bars, and Top 10 Local Parties for ideas on where to get your international drink on. Flying solo? Read the Gutsy Girl’s Guide to Drinking Alone.

Still not sure where to travel next? Here are our equally scientific calculations on where to find the world’s Sexiest Women and Sexiest Men – and the Practical Guide To Hostel Sex.

Here’s to international relations!


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About the Author

Lisa Lubin

Lisa Lubin is a a three-time Emmy-award winning writer/producer who just completed a solo journey round the world. Check out her homepage - llworldtour.com.

65 Comments... join the discussion!

  • scott replied on November 20, 2009

    ALAK NA!!!!! FROM PHILLIPINES!!

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
    • Alexey replied to scott on January 24, 2010

      what about “tagay ” in the Pilippines ?

      (Report comment)

      ↵ Reply
  • mantle replied on December 25, 2009

    mahboohi said just the way its spelled from the philipines in tagolin

    (Report comment)

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  • Mattias replied on December 31, 2009

    This was just brilliant!

    Skål, Din fulle fan! (cheers, you drunken bastard/swedish)

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • Roman replied on January 31, 2010

    Ukrainian say будьмо! in english it is “Boodmo!”

    (Report comment)

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  • Carl Hagan replied on February 10, 2010

    Gezuar shum! (much health) in Albanian

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • mylo replied on February 11, 2010

    Biba! – in the Chamorro language – Guam

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • Joe Harrington replied on February 20, 2010

    My Norwegian friends tell me that “bonski” is a term analogous to “bottoms up”.

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • peicen replied on February 20, 2010

    no welsh

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • Carly replied on March 15, 2010

    It isn’t “Zei Gazunt” in Yiddish, but “sei gesund!” which means be or stay healthy. That’s what the “Gesundheit” is related to if somebody sneezes. Also, an addition for German: “Zum Wohl!”, literally “to your well-being”.

    (Report comment)

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  • Steve replied on March 18, 2010

    You should have specified that your Portuguese pronunciation is in Brazilian Portuguese not native Portuguese. The native Portuguese it is Saw-ooh-de.

    (Report comment)

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  • Angela replied on March 23, 2010

    As for Korean,
    they don’t say ChukBae ( i don’t even know where it’s coming from),
    Seet seki yah (it’s a foul language. it’s similar to “you bitch”, which Korean people don’t cheer as)

    Few things in Korean for “cheers”
    - 위하여: We Ha Yeo
    - 건배: Gun Bae
    - 원샷: One Shot (meaning “bottoms up”)

    (Report comment)

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  • Anon replied on June 19, 2010

    lol @ Seet seki yah

    (Report comment)

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  • Anthony replied on July 22, 2010

    How about in Cambodian? Does anyone know?

    (Report comment)

    ↵ Reply
  • Mick replied on July 27, 2010

    This idiot left out Ireland! NO self respecting beer writer or lover would ever leave out Slainte in a list of toasts. retard.

    (Report comment)

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