How to Say “Cheers” In 19 Different Languages

At the end of the day, many of us can’t wait to go out with friends and share a good conversation with a drink in our hands.

The “end of the day” or “end of the meal” drink is a cherished ritual in many a culture. It is considered a great way to relax and unwind with dear friends and colleagues and an opportunity to get to know and make new friends.

Much like many conversations need to start with saying a proper greeting, drinking sessions often require you to make or respond to a toast. In cultures where English is a commonly spoken language, the common way to call for a friendly toast is to call out “cheers!”. However, there are ways to say cheers in different languages and, if you are traveling to a new country it’s a good idea to learn how to properly toast and have a drink with your new friends.

1. German

What do you say? Prost

What does it mean? Cheers 

Pronunciation tip: Prohst

When you want to propose a toast in German, you lift your glass and say “prost”. Everyone else should raise your glass and echo your toast while clinking glasses together. This traditional way of saying cheers originated in the beer halls and beer gardens of Germany but is acceptable in almost any setting now. However, if you want to be a bit more formal, you could say “Zum Woh!” (pronounce it as “tsum vohl”) which translates to “to your well-being”. Whatever the situation, you are encouraged to clink glasses with anyone within reach.

2. Spanish

What do you say? Salud

What does it mean? Cheers

Pronunciation tip: Sah-lud

This is actually the shorter version of a more formal toast that goes: Salud y amor y tiempo para disfrutario. This means, “to health and love and time to enjoy it”. 

While you might hear the full version in formal situations, a simple “salud” while clinking glasses together is the more common way to toast in Spanish.

3. French

What do you say? À Votre Santé

What does it mean? To your health

Pronunciation tip: A la vo-tre sahn-tay

This is one of the formal ways to say cheers in different languages that we will cover in this post. French speakers will also shorten this phrase to the shorter “santé” (pronounce it as sahn-tay). Both phrases are acceptable, what is not acceptable is to cross glasses with someone. Crossing glasses while toasting is believed to bring seven years of bad luck.

4. Dutch

What do you say? Proost

What does it mean? Cheers (for anything but wine)

Pronunciation tip: Prohst

This is what a Dutch speaker will say to call for a toast if you are drinking beer or liquor, but not if you are sharing a bottle of wine.  If you are drinking wine, Dutch speakers have adopted the French “santé”. Whatever you are drinking, make sure that you look people in the eyes and hold their gaze while you make the toast.

5. Greek 

What do you say? Yamas

What does it mean? To our health

Pronunciation tip: Ya mas

When you want to propose a toast when around Greek speakers, you say “yamas”. This is another example of cheers in different languages that translates to “health”. It is customary to clink glasses with your drinking partners as you say this.

There is an interesting legend to explain why clinking glasses are such an essential part of Greek drinking rituals. The Ancient Greeks believed that it would prevent poisonings. Clinking glasses was meant to slosh liquid from glass to glass, so no one could slip poison in anyone’s drink as it would poison more than just the intended target. So, clinking glasses was also a way of saying that you trusted the people you were drinking with and considered yourself among friends.

6. Portuguese

What do you say? Saúde

What does it mean? To health

Pronunciation tip: Saw –OO-de

Portuguese say “cheers” by toasting to health for a similar reason as the Ancient Greeks did because they believed that it was a way to show “good faith” to your drinking companions. So make sure you clink glasses vigorously when you say “saúde”.

There are actually two major variants of Portuguese spoken in the world, European and Brazilian Portuguese. While there are some Brazilian Portuguese slang words and expressions that are unique to Brazil, the word “cheers” is the same. You can say “saúde” when drinking with Brazilians. 

7. Polish

What do you say? Na Zdrowie

What does it mean? Cheers

Pronunciation tip: Naz-droh-vee-ay

This is the common way to say “cheers” in Polish. If a local asks you for a drink in Poland, it’s usually to down some vodka. In Poland, vodka is usually drunk as a shot that may or may not is followed by a chaser.

8. Finnish

What do you say? Kippis

What does it mean? Keep peace

Pronunciation tip: Kip-is

Like many others cheers in different languages, there’s actually an interesting story behind how this became the common phrase to call for a toast. 

According to Finnish tradition, when Finnish sailors would go to England and go drinking in pubs, they would be asked to keep it down or “keep the peace”. This evolved to “kippis” and was something they brought back with them and was embraced and made part of Finnish drinking traditions.

9. Sweden/Norway/Denmark/Iceland

What do you say? Skål

What does it mean? Bowl

Pronunciation tip: Skawl

In Scandinavian countries, you say cheers by calling out the Scandanavian word for “bowl”. The reason behind this is that it used to be a drinking tradition that people would pass around and share one drinking vessel or “bowl”. While Scandinavians no longer drink from the same bowl, they use this toast to indicate the feeling of trust and friendship of those “olden” days. 

10. Russian

What do you say? Za Zdorovie

What does it mean? To health

Pronunciation tip: Naz-droh-vee

When having a drink with Russian speakers, you can more or less be sure that the drink will be vodka. There are also almost always some small dishes such as pickles that you can nibble on. Russians drink vodka straight, not mixed or cut with soda or juice. It is, however, acceptable to have a small glass with a non-alcoholic drink in it as a chaser. Drink your vodka then that a sip of your other drink.

12. Japanese 

What do you say? Kanpai

What does it mean? Dry the glass

Pronunciation tip: Kan-pie

Sometimes transcribed as “kampai”, this is the word for “cheers” in Japanese. Its translation, however, is more instruction as to how you are supposed to drink. 

This originates from the fact that, traditionally, the Japanese drank sake or rice wine that was served in small shallow cups. Someone would pour out the sake into cups, people would say “kampai” and drain their cup. 

Drinking in a group is considered an important way to forge social bonds. So, inviting people to drink after work with your officemates is important. Sake may be in the offering, but if you would rather have a beer or another drink, that’s okay. Instead of draining your glass, however, it’s acceptable to just take a sip.

Three other important things to remember when drinking with Japanese speakers: don’t drink until everyone has a full glass, make eye contact during the toast with the people closest to you, if you are clinking a glass with someone senior to you keep your glass lower than theirs.

13. Chinese

What do you say? Gān bēi

What does it mean? Dry the cup

Pronunciation tip: Gan bay

Chinese speakers (and drinkers) will always encourage you to empty your glass during drinking sessions. You should hold your glass with your right hand and clink glasses with the people on both sides during a toast. You can put your left hand at the bottom of your glass, holding it in both hands this way, when responding to a toast given by a person who is older or of higher standing than you as this is considered a sign of respect.

14. Korean

What do you say? Geonbae

What does it mean? Empty the glass

Pronunciation tip: Gun bae

If you are traveling, working, or studying in Korea, if you are invited out to drink you should take it. Drinking together is an important step towards building essential relationships and friendships in Korea. When you hear “geonbae”, you raise your glass and say “geonbae” in response before taking a sip from your drink. 

15. Italian

What do you say? Salute

What does it mean? Cheers

Pronunciation tip: Saw-lutay

You can also say “a la vita” which means “to life” if you want to say “cheers” in Italian. There is also “cin cin” (pronounced as “chin chin”) which is meant to imitate the sound of glasses clinking together. 

16. Afrikaans

What do you say? Gesondheid

What does it mean? To health

Pronunciation tip: Ge-sund-hate

This is another one of those ways to say cheers in different languages that basically wish good health to the drinkers.

17. Czech

What do you say? Na Zdraví

What does it mean? To health

Pronunciation tip: Naz-drah vi

In Czech, the way to say “cheers” is also to call out “to health”. Czechs also believe that it is important to make eye contact and maintain eye contact when making a toast. If you don’t it is disrespectful.

 18. Vietnamese

What do you say? Một, hai, ba, vô

What does it mean? One, two, three, cheers!

Pronunciation tip: moat, hi, bah, yo!

In Vietnam, they say “cheers” by playing a sort of drinking game. They count down till the “cheers” at which point they raise their glasses and drink.

 19. Filipino

What do you say? Tagay

What does it mean? Shot

Pronunciation tip: Tah-gay

If you are staying in the Philippines, you might be invited to a drinking session referred to as “tagayan”. During a “tagayan” session, you gather in a group with one person designated as the “tanggero” who has a bottle of liquor and a shot glass. 

The tanggero pours some liquor into the shot glass, this is the “tagay” or shot. This is passed to each person in the circle who is expected to down the shot. Often, just before one downs the shot, they raise it in the air and everyone calls out “tagay”.

When drinking at a bar or party, Filipino’s will also say “tagay” to ask you if you want to drink or to mean “cheers”. If you are in a more formal situation, however, they might just say “cheers” or “toast”, in which case you clink glasses and take a drink.   

Conclusion

Getting a drink is considered a “casual” and fun activity. It is a great way to get to know new people and reinforce bonds of friendship.

Just like many different countries have many different words to say “cheers”, there are often other traditions and customs that come into play when you are invited to have a drink. We’ve included some tips here that should help make sure you don’t inadvertently come off as rude but the best way is still to ask a native speaker.

We suggest that you work with an online native language speaking tutor to best help you figure out the proper drinking etiquette and the proper way to say cheers in the language that you want to learn. They can probably also share some fun and interesting anecdotes on some drinking adventures they’ve had, and you should tell them about your own!