
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
Change Sakhol – to Sağol 🙂
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I have a question? How is it in Bulgarian?
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Thanks for the help Shamil! Spelling is correct now! 😀
NJP, in Bulgarian it is nazdrave, but if you are really a party animal, you skip this phrase and just scream Izbuhvam!!!! 😉
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Dear Lord,
Thank you…izbuhvam
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Oij, Maroccan cheers = just Besaha!!… un Maroccain!
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Georgian – გაუმარჯოს/ gaumarjos
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It wasn’t there yet? Dear God, how could we have missed it?! Thanks a lot for this addition! Especially for the one in Georgian letters, that would have been a little more difficult on this keyboard!
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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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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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Great! this may be the most useful for travel.
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Haha sure… A must-have for every true traveler! Better make several copies before you hit the road. Some might be lost in the heat of battle! 😉
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So nice to see your like yesterday. Love this post!
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Sure thing! Thanks a lot for your visit! 😀
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