Repost This Article
Photo: Star512. Feature photo: dleithinger.
SO RAISE YOUR GLASS to the Matador editors, to the tourism bureaus, and to the hostels around the world that helped me put together our collection of how to say “Cheers!” in 50 languages.
*Remember to use these responsibly – in some countries, drinking is illegal. There may also be some regional and formality variations in pronunciation, but these should get the job done!
Photos left to right: Melody.loves.you, Bérenger ZYLA.
| Language | Spelling | Phonetic Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Afrikaans | Gesondheid | Ge-sund-hate |
| Albanian | Gëzuar | Geh-zoo-ah |
| Arabic (Egypt) | فى صحتك: (literally good luck) | Fe sahetek |
| Armenian (Western) | Կէնաձդ | Genatzt |
| Azerbaijani | Nuş olsun | Nush ohlsun |
| Bosnian | Živjeli | Zhee-vi-lee |
| Bulgarian | Наздраве | Naz-dra-vey |
| Burmese | Aung myin par say | Au-ng my-in par say |
| Catalan | Salut | Sah-lut |
| Chamorro (Guam) | Biba | Bih-bah |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 干杯 gān bēi |
Gan bay |
| Croatian | Živjeli / Nazdravlje |
Zhee-ve-lee / Naz-dra-vlee |
| Czech | Na zdravi | Naz-drah vi |
| Danish | Skål | Skoal |
| Dutch | Proost | Prohst |
| Estonian | Terviseks | Ter-vih-sex |
Photos left to right: Rein Rache, nany mata..
| Language | Spelling | Phonetic Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Filipino/Tagalog | Mabuhay | Mah-boo-hay |
| Finnish | Kippis | Kip-piss |
| French | Santé / A la votre |
Sahn-tay / Ah la vo-tre |
| Galician | Salud | Saw-lood |
| German | Prost / Zum wohl |
Prohst / Tsum vohl |
| Greek | ΥΓΕΙΑ | Yamas |
| Hawaiian | Å’kålè ma’luna | Okole maluna |
| Hebrew | לחיים | L’chaim |
| Hungarian | Egészségedre (to your health) / Fenékig (until the bottom of the glass) |
Egg-esh ay-ged-reh / Fehn-eh-keg |
| Icelandic | Skál | Sk-owl |
| Irish Gaelic | Sláinte | Slawn-cha |
| Italian | Salute / Cin cin |
Saw-lutay / Chin chin |
| Japanese | 乾杯 Kanpai (Dry the glass) |
Kan-pie |
| Korean | 건배 | Gun bae |
| Latvian | Priekā / Prosit |
Pree-eh-ka / Proh-sit |
| Lithuanian | į sveikatą | Ee sweh-kata |
| Macedonian | На здравје | Na zdravye |
| Mongolian | Эрүүл мэндийн төлөө / Tulgatsgaaya |
ErUHl mehdiin toloo / Tul-gats-gAH-ya |
Photos left to right: fihu, JMRosenfeld.
| Language | Spelling | Phonetic Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Norwegian | Skål | Skawl |
| Polish | Na zdrowie | Naz-droh-vee-ay |
| Portuguese | Saúde | Saw-OO-de |
| Romanian | Noroc / Sanatate |
No-rock / Sahn-atate |
| Russian | Будем здоровы/ На здоровье |
Budem zdorovi/ Na zdorovie |
| Serbian | živeli | Zhee-ve-lee |
| Slovak | Na zdravie | Naz-drah-vee-ay |
| Slovenian | Na zdravje (literally on health) | Naz-drah-vee |
| Spanish | Salud | Sah-lud |
| Swedish | Skål | Skawl |
| Thai | Chok dee | Chok dee |
| Turkish | Şerefe | Sher-i-feh |
| Ukranian | будьмо | Boodmo |
| Vietnamese | Dô / Vô / Một hai ba, yo (one, two, three, yo) |
Jou / / Dzo Moat hi bah, yo |
| Welsh | Iechyd da | Yeh-chid dah |
| Yiddish | Sei gesund | Say geh-sund |
Community Connection
Another handy phrase to know is How To Ask For One More Beer Please in 50 Languages.
Or check out the Top 10 Local Parties for ideas on where to get your international drink on. And if you need something to sip on the morning after a few too many rounds, try a regional classic with 20 Iconic and Unusual Hot Drinks Around The World.
Kristin Conard
Kristin Conard is an editor at Matador Nights as well as a writing instructor in California. As a child, she wanted to be a librarian, because she thought that the librarian was the one who got to write all the books in the library. Her obsession with reading and writing has continued, and when she is not grading papers and lesson planning, she is working on a collection of essays and planning her next trip.
Connect with Facebook
In Zulu, one might say “Poo zimpy-la,” or my favorite, “Oogy Wawa!”
In the Philippines, “Mabuhay” means “hello” and is not used when toasting. On most occasions, we simply say “cheers.” The closest Filipino word I can think of is “tagay” which literally means “to pour beer/alcohol into one’s glass.”
Chhott in Ladakhi language!