How To Toast Around The World

Have you ever wondered how to toast around the world? Whatever the nationality we all have our own words for toasting good health, a clinking of glasses before we drink.

Whenever I visit another country the first words I learn is how to say cheers in that countries language. I thought I would share the ones I know, so you can practice them in your home bars.

How to toast around the world is a fun thing to learn. In Britain it is cheers, France is Santé, Germany is Prost, Italy is Salute, Greece is Yamas and in Wales it is lechyd da. However there are plenty more and they are all just as great.

So lets take a look at how we toast around the world and find out the meaning behind the words.

Table Of Contents

How To Say Cheers Around The World

Cheers is a word we use in Britain to toast one another before we drink. It is to wish good health, in fact we also clink our glasses and say good health.

However cheers is the word mainly used and means the same as good health. Another word used in Britain, although I think mainly in England is ‘Bottoms Up’, which again is a way of expressing good wishes and health before a drink.

But as I said cheers is the preferred word, although it does get used for other expressions too. Cheers is a way of saying thank you, or expressing gratitude. It is also used when parting company as a way of saying goodbye or farewell.

Cheers is a well used word in Britain.

A Toast In Australia

In Australia they also use the word cheers to gesture a toast, as do they in America and I think New Zealand too.

I guess we are all English speaking nations so use the same slang to raise a glass and wish good health. I am not sure if they also use other expressions to make a toast though.

Bulgarian Cheers

The people of Bulgaria say Nazdrave when they make a toast and clink their glasses. Just like many others it relates to good health.

It is pronounced as Naz drah veh, so if you visit Bulgaria then remember to say Nazdrave when you raise your glass in appreciation to health and happiness.

Very similar to how the Czech Republic say cheers.

Cheers In Czech

The people of Czech Republic love their beer, so you can imagine there is plenty of glasses clinking and toasting going on.

So what is their word for toasting before they drink? Cheers in Czech is Na Zdravi which means to your health.

It is pronounced Naz dra vee.

Raise A Glass In Finland

So what do the people of Finland say when they make a toast and clink their glasses? When the Finnish make a toast they say Kippis.

It is pronounced Kip pis and can also be used when parting ways and saying goodbye.

But remember Kippis when visiting Finland and you find a glass in your hand.

Good Health In French

The French have many different ways of toasting, and each one depends on the situation or what is being toasted.

However probably the most used one is Santé which means health. The formal version is À votre santé which means to your health.

To pronounce Santé it is easier to break it down to son tay, although the French might correct me. But just like the British, the French love to make a toast.

What Is Cheers In Germany

When the German people make a toast the most common word to use is Próst which is an expression that means to health.

Zum Wohl is also a common toast in Germany which expresses to your health. Either is okay to use and Próst I think is pronounced like toast (but obviously with the pr replacing the t) and not frost.

Zum is pronounced like sum but with a Z and Wohl like you would say foil but with a V.

Just like the British and French our German friends love to toast too. Although I think in Germany they clink the base of their glasses, rather than the rim or body of the glass.

A Toast In Greek

Just like any country Greece have their own word for cheers and it is commonly known as Yamas. Which is short for Stin Yeia Mas meaning to our health.

Stin Yeia Mas I think is said like stin yei amas, but it is much easier to say Yamas and well accepted. I have used this one a lot as I love Greece and been many times.

So Yamas!

The Irish For Cheers

In Ireland if you want to make a toast to good health, then the most popular is Sláinte which means health. It is pronounced like Slawn che.

For the full version of good health then you can say Sláinte mhaith which means good health.

The Italian Toast

The Italian toast is probably one of the most well known versions of cheers. In Italy the most common way to toast is simply Salute which means health.

The longer version is Alla Tua Salute which means to your health. Or Alla Nostra Salute meaning to our health.

Salute is pronounced Sa lu te and is an easy one word way of toasting good health. Another cheers in Italian is Cin Cin pronounced Chin Chin.

The Japanese Cheers

In Japan there are several ways to toast depending on the situation. However the most common word to say cheers is Kanpai.

A simple word that is loosely pronounced can pay. One I will practice if I ever get the chance to visit Japan.

Cheers In South Africa

In South Africa the word for cheers is Gesondheid which seems quite a mouthful. But it roughly breaks down to ge sund hide.

A little more practice maybe needed to perfect this one, but remember to Gesondheid when in South Africa.

Raise A Glass In Spain

We all love Spain and they love to toast just like the rest of us. The Spanish cheers is Salud although the long version is A Tu Salud or to your health.

It is pronounced A Tu Saloo or salood, so next time in Spain don’t forget to Salud.

It’s A Turkish Cheers

In Turkey they use a beautiful sounding word to drink to good health. The word is Serefe and it is easy to say, just break it down to sher i feh, its that simple.

I will be in Turkey soon, and will be using this word more than once I would think.

Cheers In Wales

Although part of Britain Wales have their own version of cheers. Even though the Welsh commonly use cheers as a toast. The real way to toast in Wales is to say Lechyd Da which again means good health.

Lechyd Da is simply pronounced Yakida although when the Welsh say it, it sounds different to when I say it. And I have said it a lot as I live in Wales, but I think they forgive my pronunciation.

So when in Wales lift your glass and say Yakida.

How Did We Start Toasting?

It has been a tradition throughout the world to toast to good health by raising a glass. Each country have their own word or words that represent good health.

But where did it all start?

I think it is impossible to pin down where it actually started or whom started the tradition. It is said that in ancient Greece they would give a liquid offering to the gods. They also drank to each others health.

A similar thing happened in ancient Rome, when Romans would do the same thing.

But it could go back further than this. However it started, it is something that we have all become accustomed to.

So clink those glasses and wish good health to all, wherever you are in the world.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to toast around the world is a great fun thing to do. Try it out with family and friends when enjoying a drink in your home bar or pub sheds, it’s a pub good game.

The list above will get you started.

Obviously there are many more countries to add, and I will return and update this article with some more cheers from around the world.

I will say, if some of my pronunciations are not exactly correct, then do forgive me. If you spot one and you know the correct pronunciation, then do share it below in the comments section.

Learning simple phrases when you visit another country is a great thing. Learning please and thank you is important. However I think learning the the phrase for toasting is also important, so learn to say cheers around the world.