Drinking Toasts: How to Say Cheers in 35 Different Languages

Raising a glass for a toast is a universal experience, but it comes in many different variations. In the United States and the United Kingdom, we say Cheers as a drinking toast. But each country has a different way to say cheers, spoken in their own language.

Before you travel somewhere new, why not learn a few of these other ways to say cheers? We’ve compiled 35 of them in a fun infographic (below), so you always know how to say cheers in other languages.

Do you know how to say cheers in Italian? How about Spanish? Check out the infographic below to see all the ways you can use another word for cheers when drinking.

What Does Cheers Actually Mean?

Saying “cheers” and clinking glasses is one of those time-honored traditions that we do without thinking. You may be wondering why we do it in the first place. The word or phrase used in different languages for “Cheers” has various translations, but they all carry the same meaning.

We say “Cheers!” as we clink glasses before taking a drink as a form of salutation – a gesture, or toast, meaning “to health and happiness”. While there is no definite proof of the origin of this phrase and gesture, it is said to have been an ancient tradition.

The general consensus is that it began as a way of honoring someone, just as a toast still does, but that the ceremony of saying an elaborate toast turned into a shortened for of clicking glasses and wishing your fellow drinkers good cheer!

How to Say Cheers in 35 Different Languages

We’ve done a lot of traveling – perhaps you have too – and we’re always having to scramble to look up the translation for cheers as we grab our first beer or cocktail in a different country. Sure, we could just say “cheers” and no one would care, but it’s more fun to join the others and say it like you mean it.

For your convenience (and ours), we’ve put together this fun infographic with the phrase you should use to say cheers in 35 different countries.

Notice that many countries say it the same way. Cheers in Spanish is Salud and cheers in Italian can be said Salute. Skål, meaning health, is used in at least four different countries.

Armenia

Genatzt (Pronunciation: Guh knats)

China

Gān Bēi (Pronunciation: Gan bay)

Czech Republic

Na zdraví (Pronunciation: Naz-dravi)

Denmark

Skál (Pronunciation: Sk-awl)

Egypt

في صحتكم! Fe sahetekum (Pronunciation: Fee sah ha ti koom)

England

Cheers!

Estonia

Terviseks (Pronunciation: Ter vee sex)

France

Santé (Pronunciation: San tay)

Georgia

Gaumarjos (Pronunciation: Goo mar jōs)

Germany

Prost

Greece

Ya mas

Guam

Biba (Pronunciation: Bee ba)

Holland

Proost

Hungarian

Egészségére (Pronunciation: eggie-sheg-ear-a)

Iceland

Skál (Pronunciation: Sk-awl)

Ireland

Slánte (Pronunciation: Slant sha)

Italy

Salute / Cin cin (Pronunciation: Sah-lutay / Chin chin)

Israel

L’chaim (Pronunciation: L-high-m)

Japan

乾杯 / Kanpai (Pronunciation: Kan-pie)

Korea

건배 / Geonbae (Pronunciation: Gun-bae)

Lithuania

I sveikata (Pronunciation: Ee sway-kata)

Norway

Skál (Pronunciation: Sk-awl)

Philippines

Mabuhay (Pronunciation: Ma-boo-hay)

Portugal

Saúde (Pronunciation: Saw-oo-de)

Poland

Na zdrowie (Pronunciation – Naz-droh-vee-ay)

Romania

Noroc (Pronunciation: No-rock)

Russia

Будем здоровы/ На здоровье (Pronunciation – Budem zdorovi/ Na zdorovie)

Serbia

Živeli (Pronunciation – Zhee-va-lee)

Slovakia

Na zdravie (Pronunciation: naz-draw-vee)

Slovenia

Na zdrave (Pronunciation: naz-draw-vee)

Spain

Salud (Pronunciation – Sah-lud)

Sweden

Skål (Pronunciation – Skawl)

Thailand

Chok dee

Turkey

Şerefe (Pronunciation – Sher-i-feh)

Ukraine

будьмо (Pronunciation: Bood-mo)

Vietnam

Dô / Vô / Một hai ba, yo (one, two, three, yo) (Pronunciation – Jou / Dzo / Moat hi bah, yo)

Wales

Iechyd da (Pronunciation – Yeh-chid dah)

How to Say Cheers in Many Languages (Infographic)

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Laura

Laura is the founder and editor of the travel blogs Savored Sips and Savored Journeys. She is dedicated to sharing the best information about drinks found around the world.