How To Say Cheers In Different Languages

Salute , cheers and Slainte.. If you are out on travel, journey, holiday etc. and are drinking a great whisky , you may want to say cheers to the locals. Here is a guide to you on how to say cheers in different countries. Hầu như anh đàn ông nào cũng nói uống rượu vì công việc, vì đang vui, đang buồn... xin giới thiệu một số câu chúc của các nước để thấy quan niệm về việc uống rượu của họ thế nào. Italia: Chin... chin! Anh: Cheers! (Chúc sức khoẻ). Pháp: A votre santé! (Vì sức khoẻ của bạn). Đức: Zum whol! (Tiến tới sự thịnh vượng). Thuỵ Điển: Scole! (Chúc sức khoẻ). Tiệp Khắc (cũ): Na dravie! (Chúc sức khoẻ). Việt Nam ta: Một, hai, ba... dzô! Một, hai, ba... dzô... Hahahaha Năm Mới Tết đến, Nhậu thôi!

Country

Remark / explanation

A Africa

Kenya - hey is Jambo Kikuyu (Kenya) Rathima andu atene South African : There are 11 official languages English - cheers Afrikaans - Gesondheid and try the word Amandla for the other 9

Agentina

(Spanish - Latin American) Salud y amor y tiempo para disfrutarlo

America

Cheers Wisconsin that has very strong German roots and everyone toasts, almost without fail; "Prost"

Albanian

Gëzuar / Gezuar or Shëndeti tuaj

Arabic

Fisehatak (to your health) / Shucram (United Arab Emirates)

Armenian

Genatzt (or Genatset / Genatsoot ("Life"))

Asturian

Gayola

Austrian / Austria Prosit - Prost (German) / Zum Wohl Azerbaijani Azerbaijani

Afiyæt oslun

AWA

AWA !!! klinke klanke glasset i bordet gentagne gange ... et AWA i en sætning udløser en skål.

Australia

Cheers, Cherio

Country

Remark / explanation

B Bahasa (Indonesia)

Pro

Baluchi (Iran)

Vashi

Basque

On egin Topa

Belgian / Belgium

'Op uw gezondheid' is fine for the Flemish (Dutch speaking) part of the country but for the other half, the French speaking people, it's the same as for France 'A VOTRE SANTE', although there are of course many other expressions. Thanx to Patricia WRIGHT (Belgium / French)

Belize

(English)?

Bengali

Joy

Bolivia

(Spanish - Latin America) Salud y amor y tiempo para disfrutarlo

Bosnian

Zivjeli

Brazilian

Saude, Viva (Spain, France) Topa

Breton

Yec'hed mat

Brunei Darussalam

(Malay)?

Bulgarian

Na zdrave (to your health) (Nazdrave ?)

Country

Remark / explanation

C Canada

Cheers

Caribbean

?

Catalan (Spain)

(Spanish)? Salut Txin txin Sant Hilari, Sant Hilari, fill de puta qui no se l'acabi ("Son of a bitch the one that does not finish the cup", vulgar)

Chile

(Spanish - Latin American) Salud y amor y tiempo para disfrutarlo

Chinese

Nien Nien nu e. Kong Chien

Chinese

Yung sing ("drink and win") (Cantonese) Gom bui ("dry the cup") Chinese Gan bei ("dry the cup") Mandarin : Gan bei or Kong chien.

Colombia

(Spanish - Latin American) Salud y amor y tiempo para disfrutarlo

Cornish

Yeghes da

Costa Rica

"Pura Vida" (pure life) which they use for everything. Thanks to : Dale Leatherman (See also : Spanish - Latin American : Salud y amor y tiempo para disfrutarlo)

Creole

Salud

Croatian

Zivjeli (write a small v above the Z) Zivjeli / U zdravlje

Czech

Na zdraví (to your health)

Czechoslovakian Na Zdravi, Nazdar Country

Remark / explanation

D Denmark / Danish / Dansk

Skaal / Skål Bunden i vejret eller resten i håret (Bottoms up or the rest in your hair.)

Dominican Republic

(Spanish - Latin American)

Dutch (Netherlands) (Belgium)

Country

Proost. Proost, Geluk, or Gezondheid Dutch (Flemish) Proost Gezondheid (to your health) In pure dutch (netherlands) you should say, 'gezondheid' but more common is 'proost'. Any othter expresion in any language can be and will be used. As long as we can drink it will be OK.

Remark / explanation

E Egyptian

Fee sihetak

Bisochtak Esperanto

Sanon

El Salvador

(Spanish - Latin American)?

English

Cheers Cheerio (UK) - Lets toast Here's mud in your eye (UK, vulgar)(expr. may be from Bible, John 9:141) Bottoms up (USA) Down the hatch (vulgar) Hey howdy (Arizona, informal)

Esperanto

Je via sano (to your health) (constructed) Toston ("(I propose) a toast")

Estonian

Tervist (Teie) terviseks (to your health) (Teie terviseks)

Ethiopia

they says T'chen chen

Equador

(Spanish - Latin American)

Country

Remark / explanation

F Farsi

Ba'sal'a'ma'ti

Faroese / Faeroese

Skál

Finnish (Suomi) "Kippis" is indeed a good translation for "cheers", being very informal. Finland "Maljanne" translates approximately as "A toast to you [Sir]", the polite form of address being implied by the suffix "nne". One might also say "n malja!", meaning "A toast to !". To say that these forms are never used in Finland is simply incorrect; their place is at a formal dinner party, for example. "Pohjanmaan kautta" might possibly be derived from a historical event: literally translated it means "By way of Ostrobothnia", and Ostrobothnia is precisely the way by which Finnish Jäger troops of the Royal Prussian 27th Jäger Battalion came back from training in Germany, to contribute to the victory of the "whites" in the Finnish Civil War. On the other hand, it might simply be derived from the fact that "Pohja" literally means bottom, therefore "Pohjanmaan kautta" means "bottoms up". Also, while "terveydeksi" does mean "to your health", it is to my knowledge used exclusively when someone sneezes, like gesundheit or bless you. It might, however, appear as part of a more elaborate toast. Thank you to : Ilkka Poutanen Kippis. Maljanne Kippis is the most common way to say cheers but "maljanne" is very

rear. It is very polite way to say your toast. That is never used in Finland. There is also "Hölkyn kölkyn". It doesn't mean anything but it sounds funny. That is used when you want to be funny or if you want to make foreign tourists to laugh. "Pohjanmaan kautta" means bottoms up. Pohjanmaa is a large area in the north west Finland. "Pohjanmaan kautta" is widely used E.g when you drink vodka. Thank you to Juha Nieminen Kippis Terveydeksi (formal) (to your health) French / France

A votre sante (À votre) santé (to your health) À la votre (response "And to yours") À votre santé / Santé

Frisian

Tsjoch (Netherlands)

Country

Remark / explanation

G Gaelic (Ireland)

Sláinte (to your health)

Gaelic (Scotland)

Slaandjivaa (to your health) Slainte mhoiz Slainte Mhor (Slainte vor) / Slainte Mhath

Galician (Spain) Saúde / Chinchín / Saúde Georgian

Vielen danke zu Dr.Wilram Tiemann : Der Georgier sagt: "vakhtanguri", wir sagen "prost", der Engländer "cheers" und der Däne "ska&ål". Dies ist nicht richtig. Der Georgier sagt zu einer Gruppe vonm Menschen: "Gaumardschoss". Dies bedeutet: "man möge siegen". Zu einer Einzelperson sagt der Georgier: "Gagimardschoss", das soviel wie "du mögest siegen" bedeutet. Also in kartuli ena (=georgischer Sprache) heißt "prost": Gaumardschoss. Michail Saakaschwili oder Aduard Schewardnadse würden nie: "vakhtaanguri" sagen . "vakhtanguri" sagen nur die im Landesteil Gurian lebenden Menschen. Diese haben auch einen eigenen Dialekt. Guria liegt im Südwesten von Georgien. Woher ich das alles weiß? Meinen Freund, ein deutscher Offizier, der mehrere Jahre dort leben mußte, wollte ich mit dem Wort " vakhtanguri" überraschen. Dann wurde ich aufgeklärt. Mit freundlichen Grüßen und "prost" oder besser "ska°l". Ihr Dr.Wilram Tiemann Most common : Gagimardschoss / Gaumardschoss Only in some parts of Georgien (Vakhtanguri)

German

Prost (beer)

(Germany)

Zum Wohl (wine) (to your health) Hau weg den Scheiss (vulgar) I would pretty much prefer the first (common) one as the second one is never used at all. You should remove it. 'Gruss Got' is used to welcome a person but not at all in the sense of 'cheers'. From Stefan Brede In Germany we have different ways to say "Cheers" or "Slainte", depending on the kind of drink as well as on the occasion. For BEER: "Prost!" (no matter at which occasion). For WINE: "Prost" with friends, "Zum Wohl" in a more formal environment. For COCKTAILS: Here we often use a toast, for example: "Auf uns!" (To us!) or "Auf Dich!" (To you!). For SCHNAPS: Here we often say something like "Und weg!" or "Hau' weg das Zeug!" (Down the hatch!), but "Prost!" is fine as well. For WHISKY: We never say "Prost!" with Whisky. Rather, we use "Cheers!" or a toast, like "Auf Schottland!" (To Scotland!). Old info : Prosit. Auf ihr wohl - Gruß got. - Prost ?

Greek

Eis Igian Stin ijiasas Jamas Gia'sou

Greenlandic

Kassutta ("Let our glasses meet") Imeqatigiitta ("Let's drink together") Kasugta

Guatemala

(Spanish - Latin American)?

Guyana

In Guyana, as well as Trinidad, the people speak english. So Cheers is the same in both those countries

Country

Remark / explanation

H Hawaiian

Okole maluna Okole malune Hipahipa

Hebrew

L'chaim ("To life") (Le'chaim)

Hindi

Apki Lambi Umar Ke Liye

Holooe

Kam-poe

Honduras

(Spanish - Latin American)?

Hungarian

Kedves egeszsegere Egészségedre (sing.) (to your health) Egészségetekre (plur.) (to your health)

Country

Remark / explanation

I Icelandic

Skál (Santanka nu)

Ido

Ye vua saneso

Indian

A la sature

Indonesia

Pro ( They sometimes say tos (sounds like "toss" back that drink))

Interlingua

A vostre sanitate (to your health) (constructed) A vostre salute

Ireland

Sláinte (to your health) In Northern Ireland (Ulster) there are three main offical languages : English,Irish and Ulster-Scots Cheers in Northern Ireland (Ulster) is Slainte! (to your health) in Irish AND "Guid forder!" (good luck) in Ulster-Scots. Thanx to Paul for information Irish Gaelic (Sláinte)

Israel

L'Chaim! (To Life!)

Italian / Italy

Cin cin (formal) Salute (informal)

Country

Remark / explanation

J Japan / Nippon

Kampai / Campai

Japanese / Japan

Kampai. Banzai Japanese most used : Kampai

Jamaica

?

Country

Remark / explanation

K Kikuyu (Kenya) Rathima andu atene Korean

Chukbae Kong gang ul wi ha yo Konbe

Country

Remark / explanation

L Latin

Sanitas bona (to your health) Bene tibi Latin American spanish : Salud y amor y tiempo para disfrutarlo

Latvian

Uz veselibu (Prieka)

Lebanese

Kesak (sing.) Keskun (plur.)

Liechtenstein

(German)?

Lithuanian

i sveikata (Not : I sueikata / Thank you Paulius)

Lithuanian

buk sveikas (Not: I sveikas / Thanks to Paulius)

Luxembourg

(French) ?

Country

Remark / explanation

M Macedonian

Malay

Malaysia

Na zdravje! (to your health). (Thanks to Natasha)

(Brunei Darussalam)? In Malaysia the language is "Bahasa Melayu" (meaning "malay language"). As "Basaha Malaysia" it has been brought in line with Indonesian and the two are very similar now. Experience from the Eastern Malaysia in Sarawak, Borneo where for a toast they would simply say "Minum!". Which means "drink!". Simple but effective.

Maltese

Cheers Aviva (old fashioned)

Maori

Kia Ora is a Maori greeting, the equivalent of 'Hello' In general New Zealanders tend to emulate the Australians, they say 'Cheers' too. (See New Zealand as well for further information)

Mexican / Mexico

Salud (Spanish - Latin American)

Monaco

(French)?

Moroccan / Marokko

Saha wa'afiab

Country

Remark / explanation

N Netherland

See Dutch

New Zealand

Kia Ora is a Maori greeting, the equivalent of 'Hello' In general New Zealanders tend to emulate the Australians, they say 'Cheers' too. 'Cheerio' generally means 'Goodbye' Thanx to Graeme Buckley As a kiwi I just wanted to add to your section on how to toast New Zealand style. Kia Ora is a greeting as you say but means a little more than hello - it means 'good health' and is used in many contexts. Also while we do say cheers this is derives from our mostly English heritage rather than being an 'emulation' of Australians. To say the latter is actually a teeny bit insulting! Thank you to Wendy

Nicaragua

(Spanish - Latin American)

Norwegian (Nynorsk)

Skal Skål

Country

Remark / explanation

O Occitan

A la vòstra

Country

Remark / explanation

P Pakistani

Sanda bashi

Panama

(Spanish - Latin American)

Paraguay

(Spanish - Latin American)

Persian (Iran)

(Be) salam ati (to your health) Nush ("Enjoy it, and let it be part of your body")

Paru

(Spanish - Latin American)

Philippines

Mabuhay

Polish

Na zdrowie. Vivat Na zdrowie (to your health)

Portuguese

A sia saide Brazil (Portuguese)

Portuguese

Saude (to your health) Tchim-tchim Saúde (Brazil)(to your health) Tim-tim (Brazil)

Puerto Rico

(Spanish - Latin American)

Country

Remark / explanation

Q Quatar

Hmmm alcohol is not alowed here..

Country

Remark / explanation

R Rhaeto-Romanic Viva Romanian

Noroc ("Good luck")

No one says "Na zdorovje" as a Russian drinking cheer. This is increadibly widespread myth. It does mean "To you health", but they only sayy it as a reply to "Spasibo" i.e. "Thank you". Furthermore, there is no universal drinking cheer in Russian, however paradoxal it might sound. Russian (CCCP) Sometimes they say "Budem zdorovy" meaning "Let's stay healthy". Which sometimes is shortened to just "Budem" (see Ukranian version). or "Chtob vse byli zdorovy", i.e. "Let everybody be healthy". Thanks to Dmitry Old index: Na zdorovje (to your health), Vashe zdorovie or Na zdorovia (Not used !) Country

Remark / explanation

S Sesotho

Nqa

Scotland

Slainte or Slainte Mhor (even more) Toast ir Cheers in Scotland is Slainte Mhath! (Good Health). The

response is Slainte Mhor! (Great Health). Scottish

Slainte. Here's tae ye

Serbian

Zivio Ziveli - In Serbian, cheers is 'Ziveli', pronounced 'zjee-ve-lee', meaning 'Let's live long!' (Old : Zivjeli / U zdravlje)

Slovak (Slovakia)

Na zdravie (to your health) / Stolicka! [stolitschka]

Slovenian

Na zdravje (to your health)

Somalian

Auguryo

South African (Afrikaans)

There are 11 official languages English - cheers Afrikaans - Gesondheid and try the word Amandla for the other 9 Gesondheid (to your health)

Spanish

Salud Chin chin amor y "Salud" although it can be used as a toast, it literally means "Health". Salud is also said when someone sneezes. Arriba, abajo, al centro, para adentro ("Up, down, center, inside", vulgar)

Spanish Latin American

Salud y amor y tiempo para disfrutarlo

Sri Lanka (Sinhala)

Seiradewa

Suomi (Finland) see Finnish Swahili

Afya / Vifijo

Svenska / Swedish

Skål - Skaal Helan går (Everything goes)

Swahili

Maisha marefu - good life or cheers ( Afya! Vifijo! )

Switzerland / Swiss

As you might know, there are 4 language-parts in Switzerland (Swissgerman, French, Italian, and Rätoromanisch) But that's not all, there are also a lot of diffrent dialects here. I'm living in the german part and speak a dialect called "Bärndütsch", so here we go: Cheers = Proscht, Zum Wohl, Gsundheit (the last two means to your health). For the other dialects it's mostly the same, only the accent changs a little bit. Thanx to Chrigu

Country

Remark / explanation

T

Tagalog

Mabuhay ("Long life")

(Philippines) Thai /Thailand

Choc-tee hallo or hey : Sawadekaa - (to male) Sawadekap (Female) Chook-die / Sawasdi

Turkish

Serefe (write cedille under S) ("To honor") Sagligina (sing.) (write bars over g's, remove dots over i's) (to your health) Sagliginiza (plur. or polite) (to your health)

Trinidad

In Trinidad, as well as Guyana, the people speak english. So Cheers is the same in both those countries

Country

Remark / explanation

U

Ukrainian

In Ukraine we say 'Budmo!'. This means approximately 'shall we live forever!' Usually, one person says 'Budmo!' and everybody at the table/party answers 'Hey!' (the meaning is straightforward). This repeats for up to 3 times depending on the mood of the crowd. Only then, everybody empties their glasses. Thank you to : Olena Linnyk. (Old : Na zdorov'ya)

United Arab Shucram Emirates (Arab) United Kingdom Cheers United States of America Cheers (se also American) /USA Urdu (Pakistan)

Djam

Uruguay

(Spanish - Latin American)

Uyghur

Hoshe (Cheers) Salametlikingiz ucun (For your health) Thank you to : Memet Tursun Zunun

Country

Remark / explanation

V Venezuela

(Spanish - Latin American)

Vietnamese

Chia

Can chén (write dot under a) (North V.N.) Can ly (write dot under a) (South V.N.)

Country

Remark / explanation

W Welsh

Iechyd da Iechyd da

Wales

(Welsh)

Country

Remark / explanation

X Country

Remark / explanation

Y Yiddish Mazel tov

Lechaym (Lechaim)

Yugoslavian

Ziveo / Ziveli (Though country is split up now word is still in use.)

Country

Remark / explanation

Z Zulu

Oogy wawa (ooggywawa or oogywawa)