Here Is How To Say ‘Cheers’ Around The World

Are you wondering how to say cheers around the world?

Who doesn’t like to cheers while enjoying a beverage!

When travelling around the world, we often meet people who do not speak English, and we know little to none of their languages.

The funny thing is, we all know when someone says cheers in their mother tongue.

Whether you are in an Irish pub, enjoying a shot of vodka with your new Polish friends or trying to impress someone from Japan, there is an easy way to connect.

All you have to do is raise your glass and say cheers.

Here are different ways to say cheers around the world:

How to say cheers in Czech:

Czech: Na zdravi
Pronounced: Naz-drah vi

If you are travelling to Czech, chances are you will try to say cheers in Czech.

There are few rules to say cheers, however, if you are looking to celebrate the occasion with your  Czech friends.

Before you can start enjoying your beverage, it’s essential to give a cheer to everyone at the table as you make eye contact with them.

Always look them in the eyes, as you are saying, literally, “to your health”. 

Dutch:

Dutch: Proost
Pronounced: Prohst

In case you meet some new drinking friends in one of the city’s cosy pubs, you might want to know how can you say cheers in Dutch.

Luckily it’s very straightforward as Dutchmen toast by clinking their glasses and saying proost (meaning health).

It’s important, to look at your drinking buddies directly in the eye when your glasses make contact.

How do you say cheers in German: 

German: Prost
Pronounce: Prost

If you are in Germany or hanging out with your German friends you’re more than likely going to have a beer in your hand at some point.

Prost is a part of the German culture and a fun word to know if you’re learning the language or just like to enjoy a few drinks with friends.

Greek:

Greek: ΥΓΕΙΑ
Pronounce: Yamas

Drinking in Greece is rather a casual affair with friends and family while enjoying a nice meal or celebrating an event or achievement. 

How to say cheers in Hawaii:

Hawaiian: Å’kålè ma’luna
Pronounce: okole maluna

Okole Maluna – This phrase means “bottoms up” and is not as popular as Kamau or Hipa Hipa.

Kāmau (Ka-Mau) or HipaHipa – Are probably the most common ways to say cheers in Hawaiian as it means cheers. HipaHipa is a popular saying among tourists and locals alike.

Iceland:

Icelandic: Skál. 
Pronounced: Sk-owl

Myth has it that the word Skál as a toast is related to the word “skull” and originated from the Vikings. 

Skál also means a bowl (or container) and is etymologically related to the word shell more so than a skull.

How to say cheers in Irish: 

Irish Gaelic: Sláinte
Pronounced: Slawn-cha

You are visiting Ireland for the first time, about to stop at an Irish bar and are wondering “how to raise a toast in Irish!?”. 

Don’t worry; you are not the first person to Google this.

While there are many different ways to say cheers in Irish, the most common word you will hear is Sláinte!

Italian:

Italian: Salute / Cin cin
Pronounced: Saw-lutay / Chin chin

• Health
• Well-being
• Bless you!
• Cheers!

The word salute has a variety of meanings in Italian and isn’t just limited to talking about your health, although that’s a significant use of it.

How to say cheers in Japan:

Japanese: 乾杯/ Kanpai
Pronounced: Kan-pie

The easiest way to say cheers in Japanese is kanpai, meaning dry cup, but usually loosely translated as cheers. 

Although less common, you may also hear omedetou (sounds like “oh-meh-deh-toe”) used for some toasts. Omedetou means “congratulations” in Japanese.

Korea:

Korean: 건배
Pronounced: Gun bae

The word 건배 (geonbae) literally means ’empty glass’, so is similar to the expression ‘bottom’s up’.

To use this word, raise your glass in the air, say geonbae and clink your glass with your friend’s glass.

Saying cheers in Korean will help you make new friends and help you enjoy your time in Korea. 

Say cheers in Lithuania:

Lithuanian: į sveikatą
Pronounced: Ee sweh-kata

You may be upset to find out that you won’t learn Lithuanian in a week.

The Lithuanian language is like a workout for the brain!

The good news is that it’s not that hard to say cheers in Lithuanian.

Say here’s to your good health in Lithuanian – ‘už tavo gerą sveikatą’ and you are guaranteed to make new friends. 

Moldova:

Moldovan: Noroc
Pronounced: No-rock

In Moldova, many people speak both Romanian and Russian languages.

Whether you get invited to a party or a wedding in Moldova, you will most likely want to celebrate like a local.

In Moldova you can also say, za vashe zdorovie (zah vah-she zda-roh-vye) – ‘here’s to your health’ when speaking to several people or formally addressing older or respected person.

How to say cheers in Polish:

Polish: Na zdrowie
Pronounced: naz-droh-vee-ay

Na zdrowie – without a doubt the most common toast, it’s essentially the Polish version of Cheers!

This Polish phrase is one no traveller to Poland should be left without knowing.

Portugal:

Portuguese: Saúde
Pronounced: saw-oo-day

If you find yourself in Portugal or travelling through Brazil, you are most likely wondering what’s the Portuguese word for cheers.

Saúde -meaning good health, is one of the most commonly used words when raising a glass to a toast. 

More Portugal travel tips here

How to say cheers in Russian:

Russian: Будем здоровы/ На здоровье
Pronounced: Budem zdorovi/ Na zdorovie

‘Tva-jó zda-rо-vje’ and ‘Vá-she zda-rо-vje ‘are other very commonly used phrases in Russian.

you should use ‘tva-jó zda-rо-vje’ when addressing a single friend and ‘vá-she zda-rо-vje’ when you talk to a group of people or to one person but in a formal way. 

Spanish:

How to write it: Salud
How to say it: sah-lud

The most common word said in Spain among locals is Salud. Salud literally means to your health. 

Say cheers!

Did you know that the word Cheers originated from the old French word chiere which meant ‘face’ or ‘head’.

We hope that you have enjoyed learning saying ‘cheers’ in different languages around the world!

Thanks for stopping by,

Steve and Sabina