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Slideshow
This is how to say “cheers!” around the world
Do you know your ‘prosts’ from your ‘zum wohls’?
With travel set to only become more costly post-Brexit, there’s no better time to travel overseas and put the world to rights over a drink with our European neighbours.
Half-term is fast approaching, so we’ve teamed up with language app Babbel to show you how to say “cheers” around the world, from Portugal to Poland.
Keep scrolling to make sure you appear the perfect polyglot on your next trip abroad.
Prost!
Where: Germany
Pronounced: Prost [prôst]
Originally from the Latin “prosit” translating to ‘may it be beneficial’, the German word for ‘cheers!’ is a staple. Use it as you toast with your friends in a country known for its delicious beer and of course, Oktoberfest.
For more formal occasions, however, you can say “zum Wohl“, which means “to your health.”
Iechyd da!
Where: Wales
Pronounced: Yeh-chid dah [ˈjɛχɪd ˈdaː]
Meaning “to your health”, iechyd da is the go-to toast in Wales, and is the ideal way to clink glasses on St David’s Day. The Welsh government wants to increase the number of Welsh speakers to one million by 2050, so you may be hearing this a lot more in years to come.
Cin Cin!
Where: Italy
Pronounced: chin-chin [tʃinˈtʃin]
A more formal version of the toast, can also be substituted with a casual “salute“.
Za Zdorovye!
Where: Russia
Pronounced: zer z’derovijey [zə‿zdɐˈrovʲje]
Meaning “to health,” and not to be confused with “na zdorovye“, which actually means “you’re welcome”. Russians actually change their toast based on the celebration and who they are drinking with, so this term is, more often than not, used by tourists.
Skål!
Where: Norway, Sweden, and Denmark
Pronounced: Skol [skɒːl]
If you’re looking for toasts with a unique history, head to the Scandinavian territories. “Skål“, which is used widely across Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, actually means “bowl” and harks back to the days when those gathered around the dinner table would drink from the same vessel. It is worth noting, however, that the Finnish prefer to say “kippis“, which comes from the German expression “die Gläser kippen“, or “knock back the glasses.”
In Denmark, you can also use the phrase “Bunden i vejret eller rester i håret“, which translates to “bottoms up, or the rest in your hair.”
Salud!
Where: Spain
Pronounced: Salood [sa.lud]
From the Latin ‘salus’ translating to “health”, this is a Spanish phrase commonly used when toasting, but also as a blessing when someone sneezes.
Saúde!
Where: Portugal
Pronounced: Sa-ood [sa.ud]
Just as with Spanish, the word originates from Latin and means both “cheers” and “bless you”.
Na zdorowie!
Where: Poland
Pronounced: Na zdrovee [na ˈzdrɔvjɛ]
Similar to the Russian “za zdorovye“, the Polish equivalent of ‘cheers’ means ‘to your health’.
Proost!
Where: Netherlands
Pronounced: Prost [prôst]
As both Dutch and German are West Germanic, the two languages are very similar and the word for “cheers” is the same in both languages.
Şerefe!
Where: Turkey
Pronounced: sair uh fay [sæ ɐ ‘faː]
The Turkish word for “cheers” can literally be translated as “to honour” in English.
Santé!
Where: France
Pronounced: Sontey [sɑ̃.te]
Just like the Spanish “salud“, this French word is Latin in origin. Depending on the formality of the situation, you can say “à votre santé” or “à ta santé“, which translates to, “to your health”.