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Bars + Nightlife
How to say ‘cheers’ in 50 languages
Photo: Are Sjøberg
Dec 15, 2010
CHEERS! Here’s to you! Bottom’s up! The clinking of glasses can help cement friendships and celebrate new ones — it’s an expression of goodwill and one that every traveler should know.
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!
A – E
| 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 |
F – M
| 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) or Fenékig (until the bottom of the glass) |
Egg-esh ay-ged-reh or 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 |
N – Z
| 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 |
Know how to say “Cheers!” in a language that’s not on the list? Please leave a comment below! 
Explore the world party scene with 101 PLACES TO GET F*CKED UP BEFORE YOU DIE. Part travel guide, part drunken social commentary, 101 Places to Get F*cked Up Before You Die may have some of the most hilarious scenes and straight-up observations of youth culture of any book you’ve ever read.
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