[updated June 2019]
When we travel it’s nice to put English on the shelf for awhile and try to learn a new language… or at least the most important phrases – ‘please,’ ‘thank-you,’ and, of course, ‘cheers!’ But do you know how to say “Cheers” in Spanish or other languages? Here’s a handy list of how to say “Cheers” in different languages!
The Origins of Toasting Drinks
The ancient Egyptians did it. The ancient Chinese did it. And so did the Greeks. Evidence shows us that people around the world have been partaking in booze for thousands of years. Following suit, the act of ‘toasting’ and clinking glasses together, has been taking place for so long that its origins are quite blurry.
There are many debated theories out there—the most popular being the noise of ‘clinking’ was to ward off evil spirits. Another tale touts that by crashing glasses together, the libations in each glass would slosh into the others’ cup, therefore proving neither was poisoned.
Regardless, people all over the world continue to drink together and toast together. Most commonly the toast translates to ‘good health,’ something we all need after one too many.
Toasting Around the World
When traveling the act of sharing a drink with a local brings people together all over the world. Do you know how to say cheers in Spanish? Or cheers in Korean? Or even cheers in Hawaiian?
It’s very important that you learn how to say “cheers” in other languagea with your new found friends. Here is a cheat sheet for you to print out, laminate, tuck into your passport, or just save on your cell phone. Salud and prost!
How to Say ‘Cheers’ in Different Languages
- Cheers in Afrikaans: Gesondheid! (Ge-sund-hate)
- Cheers in Albanian: Gëzuar! (Géschuar)
- Cheers in Arabic (Egyptian): في صحتكم!(Fee-sa-ha-tak)
- Cheers in Armenian: Կենացդ (gen-ots-nute)
- Cheers in Azerbaijan: i Afiyët oslun! (Afeeyet Ohs-lun)
- Cheers in Basque: On egin! (On egín)
- Cheers in Bosnian: Živjeli! (Zhee-vi-lee)
Candy is Dandy, But liquor is quicker.
[© 1936 by Ogden Nash, REFLECTIONS ON ICE-BREAKING]
- Cheers in Bulgarian: Наздраве! (NAZ-dra-vey)
- Cheers in Chinese (Cantonese): (Gom bui)
- Cheers in Chinese (Mandarin): 乾杯! [干杯!] (Gan BAY)
- Cheers in Czech: Na zdravi (NAZ-drah vi)
- Cheers in Croatian: Živjeli! (ZHEE-vi-lee)
- Cheers in Danish: Skål!(Skol)
Payday came and with it beer.
-Rudyard Kipling
- Cheers in Dutch: Proost! (Prohst)
- Cheers in English: Cheers! Bottoms up! Down the hatch! Here’s mud in your eye!
- Cheers in Esperanto: Je via sano! Toston! (YEH VEE-ah SAH-no/Tóston)
- Cheers in Estonian: Terviseks! (Ter-vi-seks)
- Cheers in Ethiopian (Amharic): Letenachin (L’-TAY-nah-chin)
- Cheers in Farsi: (Ba-sal-a-ma-TEE)
Eat thy bread with joy,
and drink thy wine with a merry heart.
—Ecclesiastes 9:10
- Cheers in Finnish: Kippis! (KEEP-us)
- Cheers in French: Santé! (Sahn-tay)
- Cheers in Gaelic (Irish): Sláinte! (Slan-che)
- Cheers in German: Prost! (Prohst)
- Cheers in Greek: στηνυγειάσας! (Stin Eyiassou/Stin Eye-ee-yass-ooh)
- Cheers in Hawaiian: Kāmau! (Ka-Mau) or Hipa! Hipa!
Drink is the feast of reason and the flow of soul.
–Alexander Pope
- Cheers in Hebrew: לְחַיִּים!/L’Chaim! (Leh HAI-em)
- Cheers in Hungarian: Egeszsegere! (Egg-esh Ay-ged-reh)
- Cheers in Italian: Salute! Cin cin! (Salut-ay/Chin Chin)
- Cheers in Japanese:
/Kampai! (Calm-pie) - Cheers in Korean: 위하여 (Gun-bae)
- Cheers in Latvian: Prieka! (Pree-eh-ka)
- Cheers in Lithuanian: i sveikata! (Ee sweh-kata)
The problem with some people is that
when they aren’t drunk they’re sober.
-William Butler Yeats
- Cheers in Luxembourgish: Prost! (Prohst)
- Cheers in Maltese: Evviva! (A-vee-va)
- Cheers in Mongolian: Эрүүл мэндийн төлөө! (Erüül mehdiin tölöö)
- Cheers in Norwegian: Skål! (Skoal)
- Cheers in Persian: به سلامت: ی! (beh salamati)
- Cheers in Polish: Na zdrowie! (Naz-droh-vee-ah)
- Cheers in Portuguese: Saúde! (Sa-ooh-de)
- Cheers in Romanian: Noroc! (No-roak)
Work is the curse of the drinking class.
-Oscar Wilde
- Cheers in Russian: Будем здоровы! (Boo-dem Zdo-ro-vee-eh)
- Cheers in Serbian: Ziveli! (ZHEE-vi-lee)
- Cheers in Slovak: Na zdravie! (Naz-drah-vee-ay)
- Cheers in Spanish : ¡Salud! (Sah-lood)
- Cheers in Swedish: 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.
- Cheers in Thai: ไชโย! (Chok-dee)
- Cheers in Turkish: Şerefe! (Sher-i-feh)
- Cheers in Vietnamese: Chúc sức khoẻ!/ Một hai ba, yo! (chook-sa-koi-ah/Maht, hi, bah, yo!)
- Cheers in Yiddish: געזונטערהייט! Zei Gazunt! (Zye GAH-zunt)
- Cheers in Zulu: Oogy wawa! (oogee-wawa)
Undoubtedly you will be making many toasts in your lifetime and hopefully in many different languages. So hoist a glass with some new friends and drink in the moment. Cheers!
Pin for later!
It's no wonder that first one goes down so fast. There's mental pressure remembering what to say that works up quite a thirst. I wonder how many phrases get misstated that have sent people into laughing fits or started wars. Any idea, oh sated one?
Korean: 위하여 (Gun-bae)
The Korean written there phonetically says ‘He-ha-yo’.
Gun-bae is spelt 건배 and does means cheers.
Hi an accent is missing in french : “Santé”
Thanks! Adding it in! 🙂
Hello;
Portuguese: Saúde! (Sa-ooh-de) <- this is based on the standard portuguese accent.
(Sow-ooh-jee) <– this one is vaguely based on brasilian accent, where they say "dje" instead of "de".
Hi Paulo! Thank you for that. I will update it now!
Saúde!