Bavarian Cheers: A Guide To Local Toast Etiquette

If you're planning to visit a Bavarian beer hall, you'll want to know how to say cheers in the local language. While Bavarians speak German, the German you'll hear in Munich and southeastern Germany is not standard German – it's the Bavarian dialect, which sounds very different. So, how do you say cheers in Bavarian? The most common way is prost, which is an expression that means to life or to health. Another option is gesundheit, which means good health.

The Bavarian drinking cry Oans, zwoa, drei, g’suffa! translates to one, two, three, drink

The Bavarian drinking cry "Oans, zwoa, drei, gsuffa!" is a staple of Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival, held annually in Munich, Germany. The phrase, which roughly translates to "one, two, three, drink" in English, is used to encourage people to take a gulp of their drink.

While "Oans, zwoa, drei, gsuffa!" may sound similar to the German "cheers" or "toast", it is important to note that it is pronounced with softened consonants and rolled Rs, reflecting the unique Bavarian dialect. This dialect, widely spoken in Munich and southeastern Germany, differs significantly from Standard German in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.

The tradition of shouting "Oans, zwoa, drei, gsuffa!" before drinking is an integral part of the festive atmosphere of Oktoberfest, where it is customary to clink glasses with everyone in the group, maintain eye contact, and take a few sips before setting your drink down.

In addition to this drinking cry, there are other iconic phrases associated with Oktoberfest, such as "O'zapft is!", shouted by the Mayor of Munich when they tap the ceremonial keg to inaugurate the festivities.

So, if you ever find yourself at Oktoberfest, remember to join in the cheer: "Oans, zwoa, drei, gsuffa!"

Prost is a toast that works for any social drinking occasion and is easy to pronounce

"Prost" is also the safest option to use among friends and strangers alike. It is not considered formal and can be used in most situations. However, it is important to note that in German culture, there is specific etiquette to follow when making a toast. Firstly, it is customary to clink glasses with each individual in the group and to make direct eye contact with each person as you do so. This is believed to bring good luck, and breaking eye contact is considered rude. Secondly, you should always toast with everyone in your party before taking a sip of your drink. Lastly, it is considered bad luck to toast with water in Germany, so stick to beer, wine, or spirits!

If you want to try out some other German toasts, you could say "Gesundheit", which means "good health", or "Zum Wohl", which means "to your health". These are typically used in more formal situations, such as a fancy dinner or a retirement party. For a fun option to get the party started, you could try "Lasst euch nicht lumpen, hoch mit dem Humpen", which translates to "don't be a slouch, raise your glass!"

So, the next time you're raising a glass with friends, why not give "prost" a try? It's a great way to add a bit of German flair to your social drinking occasions!

Gesundheit is another common toast, meaning good health

Gesundheit is another common toast in Germany, meaning "good health". It is used in a similar way to "prost", which is the closest equivalent to the English word "cheers". However, "gesundheit" is also used when someone sneezes, in the same way as in English.

"Gesundheit" is the German word for "health", and when used as a toast, it can mean many things. It is often followed by "cheers", but this is not always the case.

"Zum Wohl" is another common toast in Germany, which is very similar to "gesundheit". It translates as "to your health" and is considered more formal. This toast is usually used for wine, schnapps or spirits, whereas "prost" is used for beer.

Germans have a unique drinking culture. It is not just about alcohol, but about the collective experience of being in a bar, at a festival or in a restaurant. It is an important part of German culture and is not often done with the aim of becoming intoxicated. Instead, it is a relaxed affair, where people savour the moment and enjoy it.

Drinking is also not considered a male-dominated activity in Germany, as it is in many other countries. More than 60% of Germans drink alcohol daily, with beer being the most popular drink.

Zum Wohl is a more formal toast, used for wine, schnapps or spirits, and translates to to your health

Saying "cheers" in Bavarian is a little more complicated than in some other languages. While ""prost" is the closest equivalent to the English "cheers", there are several other ways to say it, depending on the context and the drink you're about to consume.

"Zum Wohl" is a more formal toast, used for wine, schnapps or spirits, and translates to "to your health". It's similar to "Prost" and "Gesundheit", which also relate to health, but "Zum Wohl" is used for more formal occasions like a fancy dinner or a retirement party.

When toasting, it's important to make eye contact with everyone in your party. It's also considered bad luck to toast with water in Germany, and you should clink the bottom of your glass with others, not the top.

Ich möchte einen Toast auf (NAME) ausbringen is used when toasting a specific person and means I'd like to propose a toast to (NAME)

In German, "Ich möchte einen Toast ausbringen" means "I want to make a toast" or "I would like to propose a toast". When you want to specify the person you are toasting, you can say "Ich möchte einen Toast auf [NAME] ausbringen", which translates to "I'd like to propose a toast to [NAME]".

When saying "cheers" in the German language, you can say "prost", which is an expression that means "to life" or "to health". You can also say "zum Wohl", which can be interpreted as "to your health", or "Gesundheit", which means "health".

If you are in Munich for Oktoberfest, you will likely encounter the Bavarian German dialect, which sounds very different from Standard German. Many consonants and vowel sounds are swallowed up, several grammatical features are simplified, and the vocabulary is quite distinct. For example, "cheers" in Bavarian German is "Oans, zwoa, drei, g’suffa!", which translates to "one, two, three, drink!".

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