Ways to say it
| Azerbaijani | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| şərəfə | ||
| sağlığa | ||
| sənin sağlığına | informal, singular | |
| sizin sağlığınıza | [siˈzin sɑɣɫɯɣɯnɯˈzɑ] (narrow) | formal, plural |
The word şərəfə is commonly used as a standalone exclamation during a toast, similar to saying "Cheers!" in English. You may also use forms that focus on health, such as sağlığa, to express the same sentiment.
What does it mean word for word?
The form şərəfə literally means "to the honor", where şərəf means "honor" and the suffix -ə is the dative case. The form sağlığa literally means "to the health", where sağlıq means "health" and -a is the dative suffix.
Which one should you use?
While both are used for toasts, şərəfə is a more direct translation of "to the honor" and is often used in more formal or traditional settings, whereas sağlığa focuses on health.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
şərəfə is a common standalone exclamation. When using health-based toasts, sənin sağlığına is the informal singular form, while sizin sağlığınıza is the formal plural form.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use sənin sağlığına when toasting a single person who is a friend or peer. Use sizin sağlığınıza when toasting a group of people or a single person to whom you want to show respect.
Did you know?
- An Azerbaijani toast is often not just a quick 'cheers' but a long and poetic speech that serves as a detailed tribute to guests or family.
- In a traditional Azerbaijani toast, one might not just toast the person present, but instead wish 'health' to their distant ancestors or their entire family lineage.
- The root word sağ in the toast sağlığa means both 'health' and 'right' as in the right side of the body.
Example sentences for Azerbaijani are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Nigar and Tural are having dinner at a restaurant.
- NigarTəbriklər! Şərəfə!Congratulations! Cheers!
- TuralÇox sağ ol, Nigar. Şərəfə!Thanks a lot, Nigar. Cheers!
- NigarUğurlar sənə, Tural.Good luck to you, Tural.
- TuralTəşəkkür edirəm.I thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cheers” translations and entries sizin sağlığınıza, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
