how to say 'cheers' in 50 languages
A long time ago I read somewhere that the toast originated during the Middle Ages. During large banquets hosted by feudal lords and kings, each guest would toast by pouring a little bit of their drink into their neighbor's glass, and by the time the toasting was done, everyone would have what everyone else was having. In a time where hostile takeovers often involved secret poisons, this sort of toast was done to make sure that if there were any poisoners present at the feast, he or she would also get a taste of their own medicine.
Hopefully, Dear Reader, you won't find the need for such paranoid celebratory rituals, but should you happen to find yourself in mixed company, this handy guide from Matador Nights will help you make a proper toast that everyone will understand.
How to Say Cheers in 50 Languages
A-E
|
Language |
Spelling |
Phonetic Pronunciation |
|
Afrikaans |
Gesondheid |
Ge-sund-hate |
|
Albanian |
Gëzuar |
Geh-zoo-ah |
|
Arabic (Egypt) |
فى صحتك: (literally good luck) |
Fe sahetek |
|
Armenian (Western) |
Կէնաձդ |
Genatzt |
|
Azerbaijani |
Nuş olsun |
Nush ohlsun |
|
Bosnian |
Živjeli |
Zhee-vi-lee |
|
Bulgarian |
Наздраве |
Naz-dra-vey |
|
Burmese |
Aung myin par say |
Au-ng my-in par say |
|
Catalan |
Salut |
Sah-lut |
|
Chamorro (Guam) |
Biba |
Bih-bah |
|
Chinese (Mandarin) |
干杯 gān bēi |
Gan bay |
|
Croatian |
Živjeli / Nazdravlje |
Zhee-ve-lee / Naz-dra-vlee |
|
Czech |
Na zdravi |
Naz-drah vi |
|
Danish |
Skål |
Skoal |
|
Dutch |
Proost |
Prohst |
|
Estonian |
Terviseks |
Ter-vih-sex |
F-M
|
Language |
Spelling |
Phonetic Pronunciation |
|
Filipino/Tagalog |
Mabuhay |
Mah-boo-hay |
|
Finnish |
Kippis |
Kip-piss |
|
French |
Santé / A la votre |
Sahn-tay / Ah la vo-tre |
|
Galician |
Salud |
Saw-lood |
|
German |
Prost / Zum wohl |
Prohst / Tsum vohl |
|
Greek |
ΥΓΕΙΑ |
Yamas |
|
Hawaiian |
Å’kålè ma’luna |
Okole maluna |
|
Hebrew |
לחיים |
L’chaim |
|
Hungarian |
Egészségedre (to your health) / Fenékig (until the bottom of the glass) |
Egg-esh ay-ged-reh / Fehn-eh-keg |
|
Icelandic |
Skál |
Sk-owl |
|
Irish Gaelic |
Sláinte |
Slawn-cha |
|
Italian |
Salute / Cin cin |
Saw-lutay / Chin chin |
|
Japanese |
乾杯 Kanpai (Dry the glass) |
Kan-pie |
|
Korean |
건배 |
Gun bae |
|
Latvian |
Priekā / Prosit |
Pree-eh-ka / Proh-sit |
|
Lithuanian |
į sveikatą |
Ee sweh-kata |
|
Macedonian |
На здравје |
Na zdravye |
|
Mongolian |
Эрүүл мэндийн төлөө / Tulgatsgaaya |
ErUHl mehdiin toloo / Tul-gats-gAH-ya |
N-Z
|
Language |
Spelling |
Phonetic Pronunciation |
|
Norwegian |
Skål |
Skawl |
|
Polish |
Na zdrowie |
Naz-droh-vee-ay |
|
Portuguese |
Saúde |
Saw-OO-de |
|
Romanian |
Noroc / Sanatate |
No-rock / Sahn-atate |
|
Russian |
Будем здоровы/ На здоровье |
Budem zdorovi/ Na zdorovie |
|
Serbian |
živeli |
Zhee-ve-lee |
|
Slovak |
Na zdravie |
Naz-drah-vee-ay |
|
Slovenian |
Na zdravje (literally on health) |
Naz-drah-vee |
|
Spanish |
Salud |
Sah-lud |
|
Swedish |
Skål |
Skawl |
|
Thai |
Chok dee |
Chok dee |
|
Turkish |
Şerefe |
Sher-i-feh |
|
Ukranian |
будьмо |
Boodmo |
|
Vietnamese |
Dô / Vô / Một hai ba, yo (one, two, three, yo) |
Jou / / Dzo Moat hi bah, yo |
|
Welsh |
Iechyd da |
Yeh-chid dah |
|
Yiddish |
Sei gesund |
Say geh-sund |
cheers,
k photo: Cheers! by melalouise, on Flickr
