Why Do We Say Cheers and Clink Glasses? The History, the Folklore, and 20+ Toasts in Other Languages
It’s customary to raise a glass and say “cheers” before we drink with friends, but have you ever wondered why we do it? And how do you say "cheers" in other languages? We have the answers.
Quick Reference: Cheers + Clinking Glasses
- Why we clink: the most-cited theory is medieval-era poison fear (clink mingles drinks across cups), but historians now think it was symbolic, not literal.
- Why we say cheers: from Anglo-French “chiere” (face, expression), 13th century.
- Why “toast”: 17th century English custom of putting a piece of spiced toast in the wine bowl.
- Why eye contact: European tradition; breaking it during the clink is folk-cursed (often jokingly cited as “7 years bad sex”).
- 20+ toasts in other languages: covered in the preserved detail section below.
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Almost every culture that drinks together has invented a ritual gesture to do at the start of the round. Glass-raising. Glass-clinking. Eye contact. A spoken word that means health, luck, or long life. This guide is the documented history of why English speakers say “cheers” and clink glasses, the medieval superstitions and Greek libations that shaped the modern toast, and 20+ ways to do it in other languages.
Where Cheers Actually Comes From (Etymology)
Per the Oxford English Dictionary, the modern English greeting “cheers” traces directly to a 13th century Anglo-French root.
- 13th century: Anglo-French “chiere” (or “chere”) meant face, expression, or mood.
- 14th century English: “cheer” used as a noun for one’s countenance, especially a glad one.
- 16th century: the verb “to cheer” appears: to give comfort or shout encouragement.
- 19th century: the toast-form “cheers” appears in print as a standalone drinking salutation.
- 20th century: British casual use expands to mean “thanks” or “goodbye” outside of drinking entirely.
Why Do We Clink Glasses? (The 3 Main Theories)
Per Britannica’s history of toasting, three theories compete to explain why we touch glasses before drinking. The truth is probably a mix of all three.
- Medieval poison theory. Hosts and guests clinked vigorously so wine splashed between cups, demonstrating no one was poisoning anyone. Folklore-popular but documented evidence is thin.
- Sensory completeness theory. Drinking engages 4 of 5 senses (sight, smell, taste, touch). The clink adds the 5th (hearing) so the toast is multisensory.
- Banishing evil theory. The ringing sound was believed to scare off evil spirits or demons attracted to the alcohol. Common across European folk traditions.
- Greek/Roman libation roots. Pre-toast custom of pouring a small amount on the floor for the gods, which the clink replaced as societies secularized.
Cheers, Clinking, and Toasts in Other Languages (Detail)
Below are the original sections covering the etymology of cheers, why we clink, where toast comes from, and a 20+ language toast list.
Say “Cheers!”
“Cheers” originated from the old French word chiere which meant “face” or “head.” By the 18th century, it meant “gladness,” and was used as a way of expressing encouragement. Today, “cheers,” is simply a symbolic and succinct way of toasting with the wish of good cheer and good health to those around us, an exercise of camaraderie.
Why Do We Clink Glasses?
For some, it’s almost second nature to clink glasses with others before a drink. It’s a custom that has been practiced for centuries. Here’s a look at some of the reasons we engage in this practice:
Enhance the Senses: When drinking with friends, many senses are involved: You can see it, feel it, taste it and smell it. It is believed that clinking glasses was done during toasts, because sound helped to please all five senses, completing the drinking experience. Drinking is also a coming together of friends, so by physically touching glasses, drinkers become part of a communal celebration.
Warding Off Evil: In Medieval times, glasses were clinked and people cheered loudly to ward off any demons or evil spirits. It was also thought that you would clink glasses to spill some on the floor, leaving some for the bad spirits in hopes that they would leave you alone. A German tradition is to bang mugs of alcohol on the table and yell loudly to scare away ghosts or evil spirits.
Avoid Poisoning: There are some theories circulating that toasting was a way to avoid being poisoned. Back in the days when poisoning a foe’s drink was a convenient way to murder him, it was believed that if glasses were filled to the brim and then clinked hard, a bit of alcohol from each glass would pour into the other. Mixing drinks and then taking a sip was a gesture that the drinks were unharmed.
For the Gods: While the term “cheers” may not have been used per se, many ancient civilizations had their own way of honoring their gods during drinking ceremonies or feasts. Toasting is thought to come from sacrificial libations in which a sacred liquid (blood or wine) was offered to the gods in exchange for a wish, or a prayer for health. It was Greek and Roman tradition to leave an offering to the gods, including alcoholic beverages, during celebrations and commonly after a death. In Greek mythology, the god of wine, Bacchus, was often toasted. Today, we still raise our glasses upwards to the heavens as if offering to the gods a toast to the health of the living.
Where Does Toast Come From?
The term toast, as in drinking to one’s health, comes from the literal practice of dropping a piece of toast in your drink. In the 16th century, it was common practice to add a piece of scorched or spiced toast to wine. The bread would help to soak up some of the acidity and improve flavor in poor wine. As a bonus, it would also help to soften up stale bread. Shakespeare mentions the term toast in Merry Wives of Windsor, when Falstaff calls for a quart of wine and says “put a toast in it.”
By the 18th century, the term toast had meant a person honored by the toast, rather than an actual floating piece of bread. Hence the particularly popular is referred to as “the toast of the town.”
Humans have been cheers-ing, clinking glasses and toasting throughout history. So, gather round, raise a toast (non-alcoholic works fine too) and cheers to happiness, good health, and a long life ahead.
How Do They Say Cheers In Other Languages?
Here’s what they say to “toast” to good health in other countries:
- Afrikaans, Gesondheid
- Scottish, Irish Gaelic – Sláinte (pronounced slawn-cha)
- Spanish – Salud
- German, Prost
- Danish, Skal, (pronounced Skoal)
- Dutch, Proost (pronounced prohst)
- French, Sante
- Japanese, Kanpai
- Portuguese – Saude
Do you know ways to say cheers in other languages? Tell us in the comments below!
Cheers and Clinking FAQ
Why do people clink glasses when they say cheers?
Three theories compete in the historical record. The most folkloric is the medieval poison-test theory (vigorous clinking splashed wine between cups, demonstrating trust). The most likely real reason is symbolic: it adds hearing to the four other senses already engaged in drinking, completing a multisensory ritual.
Where does the word toast come from?
The 17th century English custom of putting a piece of spiced or sweetened toast in a communal wine bowl. The bread floated, absorbed the wine, and was eaten by the most honored guest. Drinking “a toast” to someone meant drinking their health from the bowl containing the special bread.
Why do you make eye contact when you say cheers?
European tradition, especially strong in Germany, France, and Scandinavia. Breaking eye contact during the clink is jokingly cited in many countries as bringing bad luck (variously cited as 7 years bad luck, bad sex, or bad relationships). The serious reason is that eye contact signals attention and respect to the person you are toasting.
What is the most common toast in the world?
By raw frequency, French “sante” and Spanish “salud” (both meaning health) are the most-used. German “prost” and Italian “salute” are also widespread. Japanese “kanpai” (literally “dry cup”) is the most-used in East Asia.
Is there a wrong way to make a toast?
A few near-universal etiquette mistakes: toasting with water in many European countries is considered ill-luck (associated with toasting the dead). In Hungary specifically, do not clink beer glasses (a centuries-old custom tied to a 1848 historical event). In Russia, do not put an empty glass back on the table.
Why do Irish people say slainte?
From Old Irish “slainte” meaning “health.” One of the oldest continuous drinking toasts in any European language, in use for over 1,000 years. Pronounced roughly slawn-cha. Often expanded to “slainte mhath” (good health, pronounced slawn-cha vah).
Natalie LaVolpe
Natalie LaVolpe is a freelance writer and former special education teacher. She is dedicated to healthy living through body and mind. She currently resides on Long Island, New York, with her husband, children, and dog.
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- Natalie LaVolpe
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Enshallah (Persian and other Middle Eastern/Arabic countries)- God-willing or Hoping The Best Happens
Khahesh Meekohnam (Persian)- I truly invite you.
Salute – Italian. (Literally means health)
There’s an accent on the ‘e’ in French. The full form is à votre santé.
In Vietnam, we said “do” (pronounce, DZO).
In Arabic language (في صحتك) pronounced…. “fe sehetak “
Hebrew cheers is lechaim- לחיים.
In translation is “for life”
I am curious as to why the Hebrew word for cheers was omitted completely from the article, thank goodness, some reader contributed that- it means to life-leChaim!
There are 7159 languages in the world according to Ethnologue. The author exercised her right of creative liberty in choosing 10 languages as being exemplary of her theme (counting English). I don’t believe the quality of her work is diluted in the least by having left out examples from the other 7149 languages.
“干杯 (Ganbei)” in Chinese, “Şerefe” is in Turkish. Meaning: to honor
Norwegian – skål (pronounced like the Danish)
Welsh- iechyd da (that’s yech-uhd dah, with the “ch” pronounced like the “ch” in Scottich “loch” or German “buch”), “good health”
Hungarian – don’t know how it’s spelled, but it sounds like “egg eh shegg eh dreh”
Hungarian is Ege’szse’gedre. Which means to your health, but literally it is for your wholeness.
L’CHAIM. IN YIDDISH AND PROBABLY IN Hebrew. To life!
Noroc in Romanian