{"id":98880422,"date":"2020-01-02T12:03:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-02T17:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/travel-trends\/cheers-how-to-toast-in-10-languages\/"},"modified":"2025-02-18T09:51:23","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T14:51:23","slug":"how-to-toast-in-11-languages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/how-to-toast-in-11-languages\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheers! 11 International Toasts for the Next Time You Raise Your Glass"},"content":{"rendered":"

In most people travel, they at least try to take in the local color, including when it comes to imbibing in local beverages. As you clink glasses in new lands, you will want to know how to properly toast in each language. Raise your glass and utter these ways of saying cheers in 11 different countries and languages!<\/p>\n

“G\u0101nb\u0113i”<\/em><\/h2>\n

China<\/h4>\n

\"ToastIn a more formal setting, the host starts off with the first toast. While toasting, always touch glasses under the rim, this is aa sign of respect and never start your imbibing until the initial toast is given, only then should you start drinking with the group. In a more casual setting, (say at a bar or with friends) you can say g\u0101nb\u0113i<\/em> (“gon-BAY”), which means “dry cup,” if you want everyone to finish their drinks quickly.<\/p>\n

“Prost”<\/em><\/h2>\n

Germany<\/h4>\n

\"GermanyDid we hear you say Oktoberfest? Whether your flights to Germany<\/a> land you in the biggest beer festival in the world, or it’s just another stop on your Eurotrip, there’s one thing you should definitely learn to say if you’re clinking glasses and sampling some world-famous German beer: prost <\/em>(“PROHST”).\u00a0While toasting it’s customary to look your drinking mates eye-to-eye while you’re eye you’re saying your cheers. If you are toasting with wine you can say zum wohl <\/em>(“tsoom VOHL”).<\/em> And don’t forget, as in many cultures across the globe, it’s considered rude to take a swig before everyone has their drink.<\/p>\n

\u201cEg\u00e9szs\u00e9g\u00e9re!\u201d<\/em><\/h2>\n

Hungary<\/h4>\n

\"HungaryThe guest of honor proposes the first toast by saying eg\u00e9szs\u00e9g\u00e9re<\/em> (egg-esh-SHAY-gair-rah), which means “for your health.” When making a toast, make eye contact, raise your glass to eye level, say \u201ceg\u00e9szs\u00e9g\u00e9re!\u201d <\/em>in return. Now you can take a sip, maintaining eye contact, and\u00a0then place the glass back on the table. When offered a drink, you mustn\u2019t refuse it. A toast is also generally made thanking the hosts for their hospitality at the end of the evening.<\/p>\n

\u201cSalute!\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/h2>\n

Italy<\/h4>\n

\"ItalyHere, too, it’s in best form to allow your host to make the first toast and wait to sip on your beverage until they do so. When you make a toast in Italy, you can simply say, salute! <\/em>(“sah-LOO-tay”), which means “to your health.” Conveniently enough, you can also use this term after someone sneezes, meaning, \u201cbless you.\u201d In a more casual scenario, you can simply say, cin cin\u00a0 <\/em>(“chin-chin”).<\/p>\n

“Kampai”<\/em><\/h2>\n

Japan<\/h4>\n

\"SakeIn order to cheers in Japanese with your sake in hand, you will want to know the word kampai <\/em>(“kom-PIE”). The word means “empty cup” or “bottoms up” and is first said by the most senior member of the hosting family. Be sure to always let their glass be higher than yours. Again, it’s considered poor manners to start gulping down a drink before anyone else, so wait for the group and the first toast to be done before you start drinking.\u00a0 Last but not least, don’t poor your own drinks! Let the host or wait staff pour it out for you and when they do so, hold your cup with both hands. It’s all about good ol’ r-e-s-p-e-c-t in Japan!<\/p>\n

“Na zdrowia!”<\/em><\/h2>\n

Poland<\/h4>\n

\"PolandThe host toasts everyone at the table before taking you drink. You should stand if the host stands. When you propose your toast later, maintain eye contact. The most common toast is na zdrowia!<\/em> (“na zdroh-VYA”), which means\u00a0 “to your health!” Then down your drink. Za nas<\/em> (“za NAHS”) (“To us”) is used in informal settings. Before taking the first sip, everyone raises their glass and says, na zdrowie<\/em> (“na zdroh-VAHY”) (“As to health”).<\/p>\n

“Za zdorovie”<\/em><\/h2>\n

Russia<\/h4>\n

\"RussiaIn Russia, it’s customary to make a toast before drinking vodka. The most common toast is za zdorovie (<\/em>“za zdor-OH-vee-ye”), which means “to your health!” Another popular toast is za druzhbu <\/em>(“za DROOZH-boo”), meaning “to friendship.” At the end of the evening, just before the final drink, Russians often say na pososhok <\/em>(“na pa-sah-SHOHK”). This tradition comes from the old belief that taking one last drink before leaving ensures a safe journey home. Raise your glass, make eye contact, and drink together \u2014 because in Russia, toasting is a serious tradition!<\/p>\n

\u201cSk\u00e5l\u201d<\/em><\/h2>\n

Sweden<\/h4>\n

\"SwedenThe host always makes the first toast, usually sk\u00e5l<\/em> (“SKOHL”) (“cheers”). After their welcome, you may raise your glass and drink. After others have toasted, you may propose one of your own. While making a toast, be sure to make eye contact with everyone at the table as you make speak. After a toast, the men wait for the women to set their glasses down before continuing to drink.<\/p>\n

“Serefe!\u201d<\/em><\/h2>\n

Turkey<\/h4>\n

\"Raki\"Gatherings in Turkey revolve around the traditional liquor called raki<\/em>. If you are the honored guest, you are expected to make a toast after the host does or before everyone leaves. Always clink the bottom of your glass when toasting. If you wish to honor who is missing, you can tap your glass on the table after toasting, using the Turkish word serefe<\/em> (“seh-reh-FAY”) to show honor.<\/p>\n

\u201cChone Gaow\u201d<\/em><\/h2>\n

Thailand<\/h4>\n

\"ThailandRaise your glass and utter chone gaow<\/em> (“chohn GOW”) (“cheers”) while smiling as you clink glasses. When cheers-ing with someone older or of a higher status, be sure to touch your glass lower than theirs as a measure of showing your respect. You’ll often hear a simple chokh di <\/em>(“choke DEE”) (“good luck”) used as a toast as well. To propose a toast, simply raise your glass and shout out chone<\/em> (“CHOHN”) (“clink” or “cheers”) as a sign for everyone to raise their glass.<\/p>\n

You Might Also Enjoy: The World’s Best Whiskey Destinations<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

“M\u1ed9t Hai Ba, Yo”<\/em><\/h2>\n

Vietnam<\/h4>\n

\"VietnamIn a casual setting, especially in one of the local beloved beer halls, you might raise your glasses and say m\u1ed9t hai ba, yo<\/em> (“moht hai BAH, YO”), which means \u201cOne, two, three, cheers!” In a more formal setting, say an event or a dinner party, it’s more common for the Vietnamese host to say ch\u00fac s\u1ee9c kh\u1ecfe (<\/em>“chook SUHK KWEH”), which means “to your health,”\u00a0over champagne or wine. However, the toast is usually made by the highest-ranking Vietnamese at the table to make the toast, even if they aren\u2019t the host themselves. And remember, drinking is considered a group activity, drinking without the others is considered rude.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Clink any glasses in any of these countries? Let us know about your experiences in the comments below!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In most people travel, they at least try to take in the local color, including when it comes to imbibing in local beverages. As you clink glasses in new lands, you will want to know how to properly toast in each language. Raise your glass and utter these ways of saying cheers in 11 different […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":98922397,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1476,69],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98880422","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-drink","category-travel-tips-intel"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98880422","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98880422"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98880422\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":98922439,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98880422\/revisions\/98922439"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98922397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98880422"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98880422"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onetravel.com\/going-places\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98880422"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}