May We Live Forever: 7 Epic Toasts from Sarawak to Sweden

Yes, no, please, thank you, cheers, and where are the toilets should get you through the night wherever you find yourself this weekend.

This article will help you with the most important of the above.

Hungarian Fenékig! may be my favourite: until the bottom of the glass!

China

• 干杯 / Gānbēi (Mandarin)
  Pronounce: gan bay
  Meaning: Dry Your Cup
  Say it: respectfully lowering your glass to cut a business deal

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• Yam Seng
  Pronounce: YAM SENG
  Meaning: Drink to Victory
  Say it: as loud and long as you can
• Bantai
  Pronounce: ban tie
  Meaning: To Whack
  Say it: when taking a shot

Only 60 years into independence from the British Empire, Malaysia is drinking its own success. Pictured: Kuala Lumpur, c indragunawan at Pixabay

Sarawak, Malaysia

• O Ha
  Pronounce: oh ha
  Meaning: Cheers / Another Cup
  Say it: like you mean it

Sweden

• Helan Går
  Pronounce: hell and gore
  Meaning: Bottoms Up / Anything Goes
  Say it: it’s Sweden’s most popular drinking song – sing it!

Try not to think of a pink elephant

Ukraine

• Budmo
  Pronounce: boudmore
  Meaning: May We Live Forever
  Say it: after first toasting the gathering, absent friends, love, and anything else the gathering proposes
• Na Konya
  Pronounce: nah konya
  Meaning: One for the Road
  Say it: last, to the horse; you may forget the way, but the horse will carry you home

None of the above applicable? Matador Network lists ‘cheers’ in 50 languages here so you can get by wherever you find yourself.

O Ha!