how to say ‘cheers’ in 50 languages

A long time ago I read somewhere that the toast originated during the Middle Ages. During large banquets hosted by feudal lords and kings, each guest would toast by pouring a little bit of their drink into their neighbor’s glass, and by the time the toasting was done, everyone would have what everyone else was having. In a time where hostile takeovers often involved secret poisons, this sort of toast was done to make sure that if there were any poisoners present at the feast, he or she would also get a taste of their own medicine.

Hopefully, Dear Reader, you won’t find the need for such paranoid celebratory rituals, but should you happen to find yourself in mixed company, this handy guide from Matador Nights will help you make a proper toast that everyone will understand.

How to Say Cheers in 50 Languages

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) /
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

 

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

 

cheers,

k
photo: Cheers! by melalouise, on Flickr

kisha solomon

Kisha Solomon is an Atlanta-based writer, self-proclaimed bon vivant and occasional expat. The Good Life Cookbook is where she shares her latest savory adventures and collected lessons on food and life.

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2 Responses

  1. John Lewis says:

    Thats a real discovery !! Haha
    This is really gonna make my drinks more deeper :)))

    Thanks,

    Back Support | Sabar Backguard | Sabar India

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