Blog

You are currently viewing Beers and Cheers Around the World

Beers and Cheers Around the World

Four bottles of Saigon beer being cheers-ed and clinked together
Beers are best enjoyed cold and with friends

Hello. One beer please. Thank-you.

This is always a good starting phrase to learn in local language before travelling.

Hola. Una cerveza por favor. Gracias.
Salut. Une bière s’il vous plaît. Merci.
Ciao. Una birra, per favore. Grazie.
Hallo. Ein Bier bitte. Vielen Dank.
Olá. Uma cerveja por favor. Obrigada.
Xin chào. Làm ơn cho một ly bia. Cảm ơn bạn.

There’s nothing like a cold beer while soaking in the sights of a new city. Especially after a day of exploring, or when the temperature is pushing 30 degrees C. The good thing about beer is that it is accessible to all (assuming you like the taste). Whether you like ales, lagers, sours, stouts, or alcohol-free.. there’s something for everyone.

Beer has always been the “drink of the people.” Often enjoyed after a long day of work with friends around the table. Or on a beautiful summer day enjoyed with family outdoors. This is true all over the world. This social aspect is often celebrated with a toast or a “cheers,” and is a great way to celebrate friends new and old.

Cheers is a great (and fun) thing to learn in a local language (after hello, and thank-you). Additionally, it can be a great ice-breaker to meet new people and show an effort to learn about the local culture. Even if you don’t anything else, a smile and these 3 phrases can go a long way.

So here is a crash course to study up before your next trip abroad. Or just to impress your friends on the next trip to the bar. Enjoy!

stiegl beer bottle with an orange plaid label with grapefruits, and a green lawn in the background
Stiegl means little stair or little step

83 Cheers and Beers Around the World:

Afrikaans
South African Beers: Castle Lager, Black Label, Amstel and Carlsberg
Cheers: Gesondheid (Ge-sund-hate)
Meaning: To health

Albanian
Beers: Birra Korça, Birra Stela, and Birra Tirana 
Cheers: Gëzuar (gehz-oo-ah)
Meaning: To health

Armenian
Beers: Kilikia, Kotayk, and Gyumri 
Cheers:Առողջութիւն: (arh-ogh-choo-tchoon)
Meaning: Health

Aruban
Beers: Balashi, Chill, and HopiBon
Cheers: Salud: (sah-lood)
Meaning: Health

Australian
Beers: Victoria Bitter, Coopers, XXXX and Tooheys
Cheers: Bottoms Up!
Meaning: To the bottom

An empty Stella beer bottle beside a silver mug filled with beer and topped with foam on a wooden bar top
Stella, meaning “star,” refers to the Christmas star. Stella was orginally released as a holiday beer

Austrian
Beers: Stiegl, Gösser, Freistädter and Egger
Cheers: Prosit / Stoss an! 
Meaning: Health / Clinking glasses

Bangladeshi
Beers: Hunter and Bangla
Cheers: জয় (joe)
Meaning: Victory

Belgium
Beers: Bush, Stella and Hoegaarden
Cheers: Sante (sahn-tay)
Meaning: Health

Bosnian
Beers: Hercegovačko pivo, Unski biser and  Preminger
Cheers: Živjeli (nahz-drahv-lyeh)
Meaning: Health/To life

Brazilian
Beers: Bohemia, Antartica, Brahma, Skol and Original
Cheers: Viva (vee-vah)
Meaning: To life

British
Beers: Spitfire, Abbot Ale and Greene King
Cheers: Cheerio
Meaning: Greeting or exclamation

Canadian Beers. Four beers in plastic cups with foam on top and a canadian beer logo on the side of the cups
The most popular alcoholic drink in Canada is beer

Bulgarian
Beers: Pirinsko , Zagorka , Astika , Kamenitza , and Shumensko
Cheers:Наздраве : Naz-dra-vey
Meaning: Health

Burmese
Beers: Yoma, Dagon Lager, Regal Seven and Myanmar Beer
Cheers: Aung myin par say (ong-miyne par-say)
Meaning: Good health

Canadian
Beers: Kokanee, Canadian, Alexander Keiths and Richards
Cheers: Chimo
Meaning: Inuit for hello

Catalan
Beers: Estrella Damm, Piris Barcelona and Moritz
Cheers: Salut (sah-loot)
Meaning: Health

Chamorro (Guam)
Beers: Ishii, Carabao, Guam and Toshi
Cheers: Biba (Bih-bah)
Meaning: Good health

A bottle of Alpine Cranberry Sour beer with green grass in the background
I am low-key obsessed with sour beers.. They get their sour flavor due to a unique brewing process that uses wild bacteria and yeast rather than controlled yeast strains

Chinese (Cantonese)
Beers: Tsingtao, Snow, Yanjing, and Harbin
Cheers: 饮胜 yam seng
Meaning: Victory

Chinese (Mandarin)
Beers: Tsingtao, Snow, Yanjing, and Harbin
Cheers: 干杯 (gān bēi)
Meaning: Empty glass or bottoms up

Columbian
Beers: BBC, Aguila and Poker
Cheers: Salud y amor y tiempo para disfrutarlo
Meaning: Health and love and time to enjoy it

Costa Rican
Beers: Imperial, Pilsen and Rock Ice
Cheers: Pura Vida!
Meaning: Pure life or good/simple life

Croatian
Beers: Osječko, Karlovačko, Ožujsko, and Tomislav
Cheers: Živjeli (zee-vuh-lee)
Meaning: Health/To life

Czech
Beers: Pilsner Urquell, Koze, Svijany, Matuska and Bernard
Cheers: Na zdravi (nahz drah-vee)
Meaning: To Health

Guinness beer pint with a wooden bar top in the background
The first Guinness Book of World Records was published to settle pub arguments

Danish
Beers: Carlsberg and Tuborg
Cheers:  Skål (school)
Meaning: Bowl

Dutch
Beers: Heineken, Amstel, Grolsch, and Bavaria
Cheers: Proost (prohst)
Meaning: To life

Egyptian
Beers: Luxor and Stella
Cheers:في صحتك (fe sehetak)
Meaning: To health

Estonian
Beers: Saku, Alexander, Bock and A. Le Coq
Cheers: Terviseks (Ter-vih-sex)
Meaning: To health

A bottle of German apple cider with a yellow label on a wooden bar top
This is a cider or as I like to call it juice beer.. While both beer and cider are fermented.. Cider is made from apple juice rather than malted barley.

Ethiopian
Beers: St George’s, Meta and Hakim
Cheers: T’chen chen
Meaning: Sound of clinking

Fijian
Beers:  Mokusiga Pacific Lager, Cloudies Summer Ale, and Bula Bitter Brew
Cheers: Bula (boo-lah)
Meaning: For health and life

Filipino
Beers: San Miguel Pale Pilsen, Red Horse and Gold Eagle
Cheers: Mabuhay (Mah-boo-hay)
Meaning: Long life

Finnish
Beers: Hartwall, Olvi and Sinebrychoff
Cheers: Kippis (key-peese)
Meaning: To health

French
Beers: Kronenbourg 1664, Trois Chariots Blonde, and Abbaye de Vauclair Rubis 
Cheers: Sante (sohn-tay)
Meaning: To health

Tall green Viking beer can with a wooden table in the background
Vikings would traditionally drink beer from a drinking horn.. these days a can is a bit more practical.. but definitely less fun

Gaelic (Irish)
Beers: Guinness, Harp Lager and Magners Cider
Cheers: Sláinte (Slawn-cha) / Fad saol agat, gob fliuch, agus bás in Éirinn
Meaning: To health / Long life to you, a wet mouth, and death in Ireland

Gaelic (Scottish)
Beers: Deuchars IPA, Caledonian 80, Bitter & Twisted Golden Ale, Ossian Ale, Dark Island and Cauld Reekie Stout.
Cheers: Slàinte mhor a h-uile là a chi ‘s nach fhiac
Meaning: Great health to you every day that I see you and every day that I don’t

Georgian
Beers: Natakhtari, Argo, Icy, and Kayak
Cheers: გაგიმარჯოს (gah-gee-mar-choss)
Meaning: Victory

German
Beers: Weihenstephan Hefe Weissbier, Erdinger Kristall, Spaten Oktoberfest, Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier, and Paulaner
Cheers: Prost / Zum wohl (Prohst / Tsum vohl)
Meaning: To your health

Greek
Beers: Zeos, Nisos, Santorini Crazy Donkey, Voreia and Eza
Cheers: ΥΓΕΙΑ (yah-mas)
Meaning: To health

Bintang radler lemon beer bottle with a red star and green glass.
Bintang means star in Indonesian.. If this red star looks familiar it;s because Bintang is owned by Heineken

Hawaiian
Beers:  Bikini Blonde Lager, Hula Hefeweisen, Big Swell IPA and White Mountain Porter
Cheers: Huli pau! (hoo-lee pow)
Meaning: To overturn completely (bottoms up)

Hebrew
Israeli Beers: Goldstar and Maccabee
Cheers: לחיים (l’chaim)
Meaning: To life

Hungarian
Beers: Arany Ászok, Sorproni, Borsodi and Szalon
Cheers: Egészségedre (egg-esh ay-ged-ray) / Fenékig (FEHN-eh-keg)
Meaning: To your health / Bottoms up

Icelandic
Beers: Viking, Einstök, Lava, Ulfur, Kaldi Blonde and Brio
Cheers: Skál (school) 
Meaning: Bowl

Indonesian
Beers: Bali Hai, Bintang and Anker
Cheers: Pro / Toss
Meaning: Toss back/high five

Italian
Beers: Peroni, Nastro Azzurro, Moretti, Angelo Poretti, and Menabrea
Cheers: Salute (sah-loot) / cin cin
Meaning: to health / sound of glasses clinking

A gold and red Angkor beer canwith a woden floor in the background
Angkor beer is named after the iconic Khmer Angkor temples

Jamaican
Beers: Red Stripe, Royal Jamaican, and Dragon Stout
Cheers: Big Up!
Meaning: thumbs up

Japanese
Beers:  Asahi Super Dry · Kirin Ichiban, Sapporo and Orion
Cheers: Kanpai (kan-pie)
Meaning: Empty the glass

Khmer/Cambodian
Beers: Angkor and Kingdom Max
Cheers: ជល់មួយ (chull muy)
Meaning: Bump one or clink glass

Korean
Beers: Hite, Cass and OB Lager
Cheers: 건배 (guhn-bay)
Meaning: Empty cup/bottoms up

Laotian
Beer: Beerlao
Cheers: ຕຳແກ້ວ (tham-keo)
Meaning: Hit glass

Latvian
Beers: Aldaris, Lacplešis, and Cesu
Cheers: Priekā (pree-ah-kah) 
Meaning: To joy

Lebanese
Beers: Almaza and Beirut Beer
Cheers: Kesak
Meaning: your glass

Corona Beer Bottles with a lime wedge in each neck sitting on a bright blue table
The tradition of putting a lime in Corona wasn’t originally done for taste, but rather to keep flies out of the beer

Lithuanian
Beers: Jovaru Alus · Piniavos Seklyčios · Vasaknu Dvaro Tamsus, and Vilkmerges
Cheers: I sveikatą (ee sweh-kata)
Meaning: To health

Macedonian
Beers: Skopsko, Temov and Starogradsko
Cheers: На здравје (Na zdravye)
Meaning: To health

Malaysian
Beers: Royal Stout and Modern Madness
Cheers: Minum
Meaning: Drink

Maltese
Beers: Lord Chambray and Stretta
Cheers: Saħħa (Sah-hah)
Meaning: To health

Mexican
Beers: Corona, Dos Equis, Sol, and Modelo
Cheers: Salud (sah-lood)
Meaning: To Health

Holding a tiger crystal beer bottle with a shrine and beer boxes in the background
the rare Tiger Crystal undergoes a unique “crystal’ cold filtration process at -1°C which is said to enhance flavour and aroma

Moldovan
Beers: Litra, Albeer, Elvis and Lumencraft
Cheers: Noroc (no-rock)
Meaning: Luck

Mongolian
Beers: Жалам Хар, Jalam Khar, Алтан Говь, Altan Gobi, Сенгур and Sengur
Cheers:Эрүүл мэндийн төлөө (eh-rool meen-teen too-soh)
Meaning: Good health

Moroccan
Beers: Casablanca, Spéciale Flag and Stork 
Cheers:  بالصحة والعافية (Saha wa’afiab)
Meaning: To health

New Zealand/Kiwi
Beers: Speight’s, Tui, Wanaka, Monteith’s, Emerson’s and DB
Cheers: Kia Ora
Meaning: Good health (Maori)

Norwegian
Beers: Ringnes, Hansa, CB and Tou
Cheers: Skål (school)
Meaning: bowl

Mahou beer bottle with green and yellow foliage and mountains in the background
The secret to Mahou’s five star taste is that the yeast strain used to this day was selected in Germany over 100 years ago

Pakistani
Beer: Murree
Cheers: Sanda Bashi
Meaning: Happiness

Persian
Iranian Beers: ZamZam, Istak and Shams
Cheers: Be salam ati
Meaning: To health

Polish
Beers: Zywiec, Tyskie, Lech and Zubr
Cheers: Na zdrowie (naz-dro-vee-ay)
Meaning: Health

Portuguese
Beers: Sagres and Super Bock
Cheers: Saúde (saw-ooh-day)
Meaning: Health

Punjabi
Indian Beers: Kingfisher, Hunter, Kalyani, Haywards, Knock Out and Zingaro
Cheers:जय जयकार  (Jai jaikar)
Meaning: To success

Gold and green Chang beer can held up with river ripples and trees in the background
Chang is Thai for elephant, and is one of the largest beer producers in South East Asia. They also sponsor the Everton Football Club.

Romanian
Beers: Ursus, Stejar and Timișoara
Cheers: Noroc (no-rock)
Meaning: Luck

Russian
Beers: Klinskoye Svetloe, Nevskoe Imperial, Zhigulevskoye and Ochakovo.
Cheers: Будем здоровы (va-shee zah-da-ro-vye)
Meaning: Health

Serbian
Beers: Jelen, Lav, BIP and Zaječarsko
Cheers: živeli (zee-vee-lee)
Meaning: To life

Singaporean
Beers: Tiger and Anchor
Cheers: Tar
Meaning: Finish!

Slovakian
Beers: Zlaty Bazant, Kelt and Corgoň
Cheers: Na zdravie (zaz-drah-vee-ay)
Meaning: To health

Slovenian
Beers: Union and Laško
Cheers: Na zdravje (naz-drah-vee)
Meaning: To health

Singha beer bottle on a red tabletop and blue plastic chairs in the background
The Garuda symbol that appears on the beer bottles neck signifies royal approval from King Rama VII in 1939. The Royal Garuda is a rare symbol granted only to companies with longstanding integrityintegrity and quality products. It remains the only beer brand to display the Garuda.

Spanish
Beers: Mahou, Estrella Damm, and San Miguel
Cheers: Salud (sah-lood)/¡Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa’ dentro! 
Meaning: To Health/ Glass up! glass down! glass in the center! inside! ( Bottoms up!)

Sri Lankan
Beers: Royal, Lion, Kinds and Sando
Cheers: Seiradewa (Sa-dewa)
Meaning: Health

Switzerland
Beers: Unser, Calanda and Cardinal
Cheers: Gesundheit!
Meaning: Health

Swedish
Beers: Mariestads, Crocodile, Kung and Sofiero
Cheers: Skål (school)
Meaning: Bowl

Tahitian
Beers: Hinano and Tabu
Cheers: Manuia (mah-nwee-ah)
Meaning: To your health

Thai
Beers: Singha, Chang and Leo
Cheers: โชคดี (chock-dee) /ชัยโย (chai yoh)
Meaning: Luck / Victory

A red blue and white PBR can
Pabst stayed afloat during Prohibition by pivoting to making cheese. The cheese company was called Pabst-ett and was eventually bought out by Kraft.

Turkish
Beers: Efes, Tekel and Tuborg
Cheers: Şerefe (sheh-reh-feh)
Meaning: To honour

Ukrainian
Beers: Chernihivske, Obolon, and Lvivske
Cheers: будьмо (bood-mo)
Meaning: Let us be

United States/American
Beers: Budweiser, PBR, Blue Moon, Coors and Miler
Cheers: Down the hatch
Meaning: to drink

Vietnamese
Beers: Hanoi, 333, Saigon and Huda
Cheers: Yô (yo) /  Một hai ba, yô (moht hai bah yo)
Meaning: To take in / one, two, three, yo!

Welsh
Beers: Cwtch, Otley, Blorenge, Mikey Rayer and Fubar
Cheers: Echyd da (yek-id dah)
Meaning: Good Health

Yiddish
Israeli Beers: Goldstar and Maccabee
Cheers: זייט געזונט  (say geh-sund)
Meaning: Goodbye

Hanoi beer bottle with fresh herbs and chilis in the background
Hanoi beer is characterized by its low fermentation. It must be drank quickly after being poured from the bottle or else it becomes quite bitter.

Zulu
South African Beers: Castle Lager, Black Label, Amstel and Carlsberg
Cheers: Bajabule
Meaning: Happiness

I hope you have found a new favourite way to toast friends new and old! Let me know if there’s any I have missed (..or if I have to correct any mistakes).

Cheers to beers, and the friends they are drank with!

A beer can tower built against a wall in a cabin
And a final word to the wise.. Don’t try to out drink geologists

Feeling snacky after all this beer?
Check out 100 Things to Eat and Drink Around the World

Please follow and like us:
error
fb-share-icon
Tweet
fb-share-icon
Tags: , , , ,

Kendra

SCI EST 2019 ..and on a roll since then. Reclaiming my narrative and redefining my sense of freedom as a wheelchair user. Challenging the public perception of people with disabilities. Paving the way for future generations by building on the work done by those before me. Offering my unique perspective as a wheelchair user after a spinal cord injury. It's not me, it's how I get around. A few of my favourite things: cooking, meditating, yoga, painting, reading, boxing, swimming, and of course travelling. My ideal travel experience includes seeing new places, experiencing new cultures, enjoying nature, checking out historical sites and getting a taste of new cuisines.