Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| за здоро́вье | za zdoróvʹje | |
| за ва́ше здоро́вье | za váše zdoróvʹje | formal |
| за твоё здоро́вье | za tvojó zdoróvʹje | informal |
| but "за ваше здоровье" is most used. | ||
| пей до дна́ | pej do dná |
You may also encounter the command пей до дна́, which means "drink to the bottom" or "bottoms up".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase за здоро́вье literally means "for health".
Which one should you use?
Use за ва́ше здоро́вье when toasting a group or someone you address formally, and за твоё здоро́вье for a single person you are on informal terms with.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
За ва́ше здоро́вье is the formal version. За твоё здоро́вье is informal, used for a single friend or peer.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form за ва́ше здоро́вье uses the polite/plural possessive pronoun ва́ше to address a group or a person formally. The form за твоё здоро́вье uses the singular/informal possessive pronoun твоё to address a single friend or peer.
How do you pronounce it?
za zdoróvʹje
When do people say it?
When toasting in Russia, it is essential to maintain eye contact to show respect and sincerity. It may also be considered bad luck to clink glasses before the words of a toast are spoken. If someone toasts to your health or success in Russia, it is customary to respond with a short toast in return.
Did you know?
- Drinking without a toast is sometimes viewed as uncouth or 'drinking like a dog' in traditional Russian social circles.
- While за здоро́вье is the standard toast, Russians often engage in long, elaborate speeches before the actual drink, turning a simple 'cheers' into a storytelling event.
- After a series of toasts, it is customary to pair the alcohol with 'zakuski' or salty appetizers to balance the drink.
Example sentences for Russian are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cheers” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
