Ah, what better way to celebrate with the locals than over a swig of alcohol! You may be asked to join in a toast, so it’s always a nice surprise when a foreigner is able to say cheers in the other local country’s language.
Most cheers are to honor your health and well being. They translate loosely to “to your health”. Others simply mean cheers. Some languages translate differently, such as “kanpai” in Japanese, meaning to “empty the glass”. The locals of Moldova toast “noroc” wishing good fortune and luck to come. All and all, learning to say cheers is one of the most fun, useful language phrases to know.
Say Cheers in Other Different Countries Languages
The first history of cheers on paper was in 1919. However, the word’s origin dates back to 1225 AD as “makien cheres”, which grew to “What chere be with you?”, a common social greeting in 14th century England. As time evolved it took on the quicker “chere”, which was a friendly phrase.
Originally recorded as “makien cheres” in 1225 AD, the phrase evolved to “what chere be with you?” in the 14th century which was a common greeting in England. Eventually, ‘chere’ began to mean good humor. In 1919, the phrase was first written as the “cheers” we know today. There are countless ways people say cheers, whether through longer, thoughtful toasts
The most important tip for cheers is to look the other toasters in the eye before you drink. This is common place throughout much of the world, especially in Scandinavian countries, such as Denmark. Shots are usually meant to be drank at once, so take it a like a champ! If you have a beer in your hand, take a healthy sip and put it back down, unless you wanna chug it. Do as the Romans do.
If you’ve ever been without a cheers to give, just rattle off one of these foreign phrases and show off your cultured side. Omniglot provides an online encyclopedia of writing systems and languages, plus additional ways to say cheers. Here’s to your health!
Afrikaans: Gesondheid
Pronounced – Ge-sund-hate!
Chinese (Mandarin):干杯 / gān bēi
Pronounced – Gan bay!
Pronounced – Naz-drah vi!
Danish: Skål
Pronounced – Skawl!
Dutch: Proost
Pronounced – Prohst
English: Cheers
Pronounced – Glug glug glug ; )
French: Santé! / À votre santé!
Pronounced – Sahn-tay! / Ah la vo-tre sahn-tay!
Learn more about cheers in French
German: Prost / Zum wohl
Pronounced – Prohst / Tsum vohl!
Pronounced – Yamas!
Irish Gaelic: Sláinte
Pronounced – Slawn-cha!
Italian: Salute / Cin cin
Pronounced – Saw-lutay! / Chin chin!
Japanese: 乾杯/ Kanpai
Pronounced – Kan-pie!
Learn more about cheers in Japanese
Korean: 건배
Pronounced – Gun bae!
Lithuanian: į sveikatą
Pronounced – Ee sweh-kata!
Pronounced – No-rock!
Polish: Na zdrowie
Pronounced – Naz-droh-vee-ay!
Portugese: Saúde
Pronounced – Saw-OO-de!
Russian: Будем здоровы/ На здоровье
Pronounced – Budem zdorovi/ Na zdorovie, Na Stra Ro Ve Ah!
Learn more about cheers in Russian
Spanish: Salud
Pronounced – Sah-lud!
Swedish: Skål
Pronounced – Skawl!
Pronounced – Prostli
Vietnamese: Một hai ba yo
Pronounced – Mo, hi, ba, yooo!
Welsh: Iechyd da
Pronounced – Yeh-chid dah!
Yiddish: Sei gesund
Pronounced – Say geh-sund!
Did we miss any great ways to say cheers? Let us know in the comments, so we can learn. Thanks.
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