Why do people say cheers?

Have you ever wondered why do people say cheers? I definitely have and it turns out there are a few different versions as to the how it came about. One version claims the before drinking, the clinking of glasses is done to scare of the evil spirits. The second version goes way back and was apparently a ritual in Ancient Greece to spill the drink into each others glasses, to ensure neither had poison in them.

Nowadays though, ‘Cheers’ followed by glass clinking is usually done as a celebration of enjoying the moment or for good health.

Note: This article is gathered for informative purposes and doesn’t promote drinking. Drinking in some countries is illegal and these phrases should be used responsibly. 

How to say Cheers in 60 languages

(language : spelling – pronounciation)

• Afrikaans (South Africa) : Gesondheid – Ge-sund-hate
• Albanian : Gëzuar – Geh-zoo-ah
• Armenian (est) : բարև – Ba-reev
• Azerbaijani : Nuş olsun/Sağol – Nush Ohlsun
• Bosnian and Herzegovinan : Živjeli – Zhee-vi-lee
• Bulgarian : Наздраве – Naz-dra-vey
• Burmese : Aung myin par say – Au-ny my-in par say
• Chinese (Mandarin) : 干杯, gān bēi – Gan bay
• Croatian : Živjeli/Nazdravlje – Zhee-vee-lee/Naz-dra-vlee
• Czech : Na zdravi – Naz-dra vi
• Denmark : Skål – Skoal
• Dutch : Proost – Prost
• Egyptian (Arabic) : صحتك – Fee sihetak
• Estonian : Terviseks – Ter-vi-sex
• Ethiopian : T’chen chen – Chin Chin
• Finnish : Kippis – Kip-piss
• French : Santé – Sahn-tay
• Georgian :  გაუმარჯოს – Gau-mar-jos
• German : Prost – Prost
• Greek : Γεια μας – Ya-mas
• Greenlandic – Kassutta – Gass Uda
• Hawaiin : Å’kålè ma’luna – Okole maluna
• Hungarian : Egészségedre – Eg-esh ay-ged-re
• Icelandic : Skál – Skowl
• Indian (Hindi) : चियर्स – Chi-yars
• Indonesian – tepuk tangan – te-puk tan-gan
• Iranian (Farsi) : به سلامتی – Ba-sal-a-ma-ti
• Irish : Sláinte – Slawn-cha
• Israeli : L’chaim – L-chaim
• Italian : Salute/Cin cin – Sa-lootay/Chin chin
• Japanese : 乾杯 – Kan-pie
• Kenyan (Kikuyu) : Rathima andu atene – Rath-ima andu a-tene
• Korean : 건배 – Gun bae
• Latvian : Priekā – Pree-eh-ka
• Lebanese : Kesak – Ke-sak
• Lithuanian : į sveikatą – Ee say-katta
• Macedonian : На здравjе – Na-zdra-vee
• Maori (NZ) : kia ora – key-a aura
• Mongolian : Эрүүл мэндийн тoлoo – Eruhl mehdeen toloo
• Moroccan : بالصحة – bes-se-ha
• Norwegian : Skål – Skawl
• Pakistani : San-da Ba-shi– Sanda Bashi
• Philippino : Mabuhay – Mah boo hay
• Polish : Na zdrowie – Naz-dro-vi-a
• Portuguese : Saúde – Saw-oo-de
• Romania : Noroc – No-rock
• Russian : Наздоровье – Na-zdarovia
• Serbian : Živeli – Zee-ve-lee
• Slovakian : Na zdravie – Naz-dra-vee-aye
• Slovenian : Na zdravje – Naz-dra-vee
• Somalia : Auguryo – Au-gu-ryo
• Spanish : Salud – Sa-lood
• Sinhalese (Sri Lanka) : ‘චියර්ස්’ – cai-ya-ra-sa
• Swedish : Skål – Skawl
• Thailand : Chok dee – Chok-dee
• Turkish : Şerefe – Sher-i-feh
• Ukrainian : Будьмо – Bood-mo
• Vietnamese : Dô/Vô – Jou
• Welsh : Iechyd da – Yea-chid da
• Zulu : Oogy wawa – Oo-gee wa-wa

Do you really need to learn how to say cheers in 60 languages?

You definitely don’t need to know them all, but it’s an epic conversation starter. One thing I have learned too is people appreciate foreigners trying to learn their language, even if they’re not the best at it. So next time you’re about to pop a brew with some friends, see how many languages you can say cheers in!

Don’t forget to bookmark this page for reference. You never know when you’re going to need to know how to say cheers in 60 languages.

Side note: ALWAYS check your Travel Insurance Policies to ensure you actually get covered if you’re out enjoying an alcoholic beverage. A lot of companies won’t actually insure you if you’ve had alcohol for majority of activities. Always play safe not sorry.