Say “Cheers” in 60 languages, be a citizen of the world!

Cultural exchange

Two guys from two different countries drinking together and not having problem with the intercultural communication

While it is true that alcohol removes barriers between people and melts the ice (if you put some in the glass), you need to impress your drinking friends from abroad when you explode with them. Admit it: you are always pleasantly surprise to hear a foreigner saying something useful in your language. But let’s not be too wordy. Here is a list which we are sure you’ll find pretty exhaustive:

South Africa (Afrikaans) – Gesondheid

Albania – Gëzuar

Armenia – Genatzt

Azerbaijan – Nuş olsun/Sağol

Bosnia and Herzegovina – Živjeli

Bulgaria – Наздраве, Nazdrave

Burma – Aung myin par say

China – 干杯, gān bēi

Croatia – Živjeli/Nazdravlje

Czech Republic – Na zdravi

Denmark – Skål

Egypt – Fee sihetak

Estonia – Terviseks

Ethiopia – T’chen chen

Faroe Islands – Skål

Finland – Kippis

France – Santé

Georgia – გაუმარჯოს/ gaumarjos

Germany – Prost/Zum vohl

Greece – Γεια μας/Geia mas

Greenland – Kassutta

Hawai – Å’kålè ma’luna

Hungary – Egészségedre

Iceland – Skál

India – Apki Lambi Umar Ke Liye (Hindi)

Indonesia – Pro

Iran (Farsi) – Ba’sal’a’ma’ti

Ireland – Sláinte

Israel – L’chaim

Italy – Salute/Cin cin

Japan – Kanpai

Kenya (Kikuyu) – Rathima andu atene

Korea – Gun bae

Latvia – Priekā/Prosit

Lebanon – Kesak

Lithuania – į sveikatą

Macedonia – На здравjе. Na zdravje

Mongolia – Эрүүл мэндийн тoлoo/Tulgatsgaaya

Morocco – Saha wa’afiab

Netherlands – Proost

Norway – Skål

Pakistan – Sanda Bashi, Djam (Urdu)

Philippines – Mabuhay

Poland – Na zdrowie

Portugal – Saúde

Romania – Noroc

Russia – За здоровье, Za zdarovje (10 ways to cheers properly in Russian)

Serbia – Živeli

Slovakia – Na zdravie

Slovenia – Na zdravje

Somalia – Auguryo

South Africa (in Afrikaans) – Gesondheid

Spain – Salud

Sri Lanka (Singalese) – Seiradewa

Sweden – Skål

Thailand – Chok dee

Turkey – Şerefe

Ukraine – Будьмо, Budjmo

Vietnam – Dô/Vô

Wales – Iechyd da

Still feel there are phrases missing? Don’t hesitate to make the list even longer! You can never socialize enough while enjoying a good drink.

Nikolay Nikolov

18 thoughts on “Say “Cheers” in 60 languages, be a citizen of the world!

  1. Reblogged this on Lords of the Drinks and commented:

    Here’s one of our oldest posts. We once started off with 45 languages, but it was clearly time for an update. After a little bit of searching we now offer you at least 60 holiday destinations, since you must always be able to have a drink with the locals. Countries in the American continent are covered too with Spanish, English, French, Portuguese and Dutch on the list.

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  2. Hi Micky! Great post, but I wonder where the rumor comes from that Russians say ‘Nazdorovje’ for ‘Cheers’, We say it when someone sneezes so it’s an equivalent of ‘Bless you’. In fact, we don’t have a specific phrase for ‘Cheers’, someone usually says a toast when people raise glasses and the toasts are very different depending on the occasion (if any) and on the level of drunkness of people 🙂 But sometimes a gulp of alcohol is worth a thousand words so people just proceed to enjoying their drinks!

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    • Hey Victoria… I have heard this too. But on the other hand there have been times when I heard Russians say Nazdorovje too! Maybe they were just polite to an ignorant foreigner, but okay.
      Your explanation has been noted. On the other hand I don’t believe a great drinking country like Russia should be missing in this list! I hope you agree! 😉
      Poka,
      Micky

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