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.
How to Say Cheers in Many Languages (Infographic)
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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)
Now that you know how to say cheers in different languages, why not share it with your friends or post this to Facebook?
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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.
I knew a few Laura but did not know Thailand’s. Way cool. I guess we were always drinking water there to dehydrate from the oppressive humidity LOL.
Hah. It is excessively hot there!
Hehe! Never knew most of them there. Cheers for the awesome read.
“Cheers” in Irish is Sláinte. In Scottish Gaelic it is “Slàinte” (Pronounced slaan-ji)
Cheers in Persian ( Farsi)
به سلامتی
Thanks Syrus! Great addition.