How To Say ‘Cheers’ Anywhere In The World. Like Sláinte, “Cheers” in Ireland.
After a long journey or a great day, there’s nothing better than the moment you hear the magic words: cheers. Glasses clink, life is instantly better, whatever is in the glass. Ahhhh.
But to be a true master traveler, you need to say the magic word like a local, and perhaps with a little accent added for effect. After all, you don’t want to insult the local customs, do you? Here’s how to say “cheers” in 26 languages – which should instantly make you more interesting, wherever you are.
Afrikaans
Gesondheid
Pronunciation – Ge-sund-hate
Arabic
في صحتك / Fi sihtik
Pronunciation – Fe sahetek
Bulgarian
Наздраве
Pronunciation – Naz-dra-vey
Chinese (Mandarin)
干杯 / Gān bēi
Pronunciation – Gan bay
Danish
Skål
Pronunciation – Skoal
Dutch
Proost
Pronunciation – Prohst
Finnish
Kippis
Pronunciation – Kip-piss
French
Santé!
Pronunciation – Sahn-tay
German
Prost / Zum wohl
Pronunciation – Prohst / Tsum vohl
Greek
ΥΓΕΙΑ
Pronunciation – Yamas
Hawaiian
Å’kålè ma’luna
Pronunciation – Okole maluna
Icelandic
Skál
Pronunciation – Sk-owl
Italian
Salute / Cin cin
Pronunciation – Saw-lutay / Chin chin
Japanese
乾杯 / Kanpai
Pronunciation – Kan-pie
Korean
건배 / Geonbae
Pronunciation – Gun-bae
Norwegian
Skål
Pronunciation – Skawl
Portuguese
Saúde
Pronunciation – Saw-oo-de
Polish
Na zdrowie
Pronunciation – Naz-droh-vee-ay
Russian
Будем здоровы/ На здоровье
Pronunciation – Budem zdorovi/ Na zdorovie
Serbian
Živeli
Pronunciation – Zhee-ve-lee
Spanish
Salud
Pronunciation – Sah-lud
Swedish
Skål
Pronunciation – Skawl
Turkish
Şerefe
Pronunciation – Sher-i-feh
Vietnamese
Dô / Vô / Một hai ba, yo (one, two, three, yo)
Pronunciation – Jou / Dzo / Moat hi bah, yo
Welsh
Iechyd da
Pronunciation – Yeh-chid dah
Yiddish
Sei gesund
Pronunciation – Say geh-sund
The best thing about these languages is that some are spoken in more than 20 countries! By focusing on these 26 languages, you’ll be able to clink with happiness in more than 75 countries around the world. If there’s one thing that’s true about drinking: it always tastes better abroad. Use this handy link, which tells you where each language is spoken around the world. You’ll be ready for a drink anywhere you go.
Two stories:
I was drinking with friends in Puerto Vallarta when a woman went to the bar, asked the bartender a question, then came back, raised her glass, and said “Escuela!” with a big smile. Everyone was completely puzzled. After a couple of seconds I worked out what had happened and burst out laughing. (Stop reading here if you want to figure it out for yourself ….) She had asked the bartender “How do you say ‘skål’ in Spanish?” and he had heard “school”.
Another time I was with colleagues on a business trip to Japan when an Italian colleague toasted the Japanese side saying “Cin-cin!” The Japanese side were dumbstruck. Finally one of them asked “Why did you say ‘little boy’s penis’?” (“Chin” is Japanese slang for “penis”, and reduplicating it makes it cute.)
Hello
In persian we say “Salamati” or “noosh”
Please put this old language inside your page
Cheers
“Salamati”
On holiday in Greece, a Rep thought it would be “funny” when asked how to say cheers in Greek , he gave me a very rude word. I honestly didn’t know, the looks from the locals told me something was wrong! He got the sack. Thankfully those lovely people didn’t think bad of me. And 20 + years later I am still going back!