Damon Mcknight
If you're planning a trip to Austria, it's worth knowing how to say cheers in Austrian. The Austrian equivalent of cheers is prost, which comes from the Latin word prosit, meaning to wish good health before drinking. It's pronounced to rhyme with toast. When saying prost, it's important to clink glasses and make eye contact. Austrians take their toasting rituals seriously, and it's considered bad form to start drinking before everyone has clinked glasses and said prost. So get ready to socialize like a local and impress your Austrian friends with your prost etiquette!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Austrian equivalent for "cheers" | Prost |
| Pronunciation | Rhymes with "toast" in dialect-free British English |
| Alternative | Zum Wohl |
| Alternative Pronunciation | Sounds like "zoom vole" |
| Alternative Meaning | To your health |
| Other Alternatives | Gesund (meaning healthy) |
| Ritual | Clink glasses and make eye contact |
| Superstition | Not making eye contact is considered bad luck |
| Superstition | Not making eye contact may result in seven years of bad sex |
| Drinking etiquette | Do not start drinking before saying "Prost" |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The Austrian equivalent of cheers is prost, which comes from the Latin prosit, meaning to
- Austrians also say zum wohl (to good health) or gesund (healthy)
- It is considered rude to start drinking before saying prost and clinking glasses with everyone at the table
- If someone arrives late to the table, it is customary to apologise for starting without them
- Making eye contact when saying prost is also important; some Austrians believe it is bad luck not to do so
The Austrian equivalent of cheers is prost, which comes from the Latin prosit, meaning to wish good health
The Austrian equivalent of "cheers" is "prost", which is derived from the Latin word "prosit", meaning "to wish good health". "Prost" is commonly one of the first words people learn in German, as it is frequently used in social situations. It is used in the same way as "cheers" – when drinking with others and clinking glasses.
When saying "prost", it is customary to clink glasses with each person at the table within reach and make eye contact. It is considered rude to start drinking before you have said "prost" to everyone, and some Austrians believe that not doing so will bring bad luck. If someone arrives at the table late, it is customary to apologise for having started drinking before saying "prost" to them.
There are several alternatives to "prost" that are also used in Austria. One is "zum Wohl", which means "to your health", and another is simply "gesund", which means "healthy".
Exploring Switzerland and Austria: A Study in Similarities
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Austrians also say zum wohl (to good health) or gesund (healthy)
In Austria, the equivalent word for "cheers" is "prost", which comes from the Latin word "prosit", meaning ""to wish good health before drinking". However, Austrians also say "zum wohl", which means "to good health", or simply "gesund", which means "healthy".
"Prost" is typically used when having drinks and clinking glasses with others. It is considered impolite to start drinking before saying "prost" to everyone at the table and allowing them to return the toast. This custom is deeply ingrained in Austrian culture, and failing to adhere to it is likened to queue jumping in the UK—a significant social faux pas.
When saying "prost", it is customary to clink glasses and make eye contact with the person you are toasting with. Some Austrians believe that not maintaining eye contact during the toast can bring bad luck or even "seven years of bad sex".
While "prost" is the most common way to say "cheers" in Austria, "zum wohl" is another option, particularly when drinking wine. It is important to note that Austrians generally avoid mixing terms, so if someone says "prost" or "zum wohl", it is advisable to respond with the same word rather than using an alternative.
Liberating City-States: The Marriage Conundrum in Civ 5
You may want to see also
Explore related products
It is considered rude to start drinking before saying prost and clinking glasses with everyone at the table
In Austria, "prost" is the equivalent of "cheers". The word comes from the Latin "prosit", which means to wish someone good health before drinking. "Prost" is used in the same way as "cheers" – when drinking with others and clinking glasses.
It is considered rude to start drinking before saying "prost" and clinking glasses with everyone at the table. This is a ritual that Austrians take seriously, and it is seen as similar to queue jumping in the UK – a mortal sin which can lead to immediate arrest and deportation. It is also considered bad luck, or a sentence of seven years of bad sex, not to look into the eyes of the person you are toasting with.
The "prost" ritual involves clinking glasses with each person at the table within reach. There are different schools of thought on the appropriate clinking behaviour when not everyone is drinking alcohol. One is to clink glasses with anyone drinking alcohol and another is to clink glasses only with those drinking the same as you and to give a general "prost" to others. If people are out of reach, you can raise your glass in their direction. If someone arrives late at the table, it is customary to apologise for having started before saying "prost" to them.
Instead of "prost", you may hear "zum Wohl" (which sounds like "zoom vole"), particularly when drinking wine. This means "to your health". It is considered bad form to mix terms, so if someone says "prost" or "zum Wohl", you should reply with the same word.
Trimming Austrian Pine Trees: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
If someone arrives late to the table, it is customary to apologise for starting without them
In Austria, it is considered rude to start drinking before saying "cheers" to everyone at the table. The Austrian equivalent of "cheers" is prost, which comes from the Latin "prosit", meaning "to wish good health before drinking". Alternatives include zum wohl (to good health) or gesund (healthy).
In general, it is considered polite to wait for late guests before starting a meal. In a private residence, dinner should be delayed by no more than 15 to 20 minutes to accommodate late guests. In a formal setting, a butler or maid will receive late guests, while the hostess remains seated. In an informal setting, the host will greet late guests at the door.
Writing Prices in Euros: Austria's Unique Style
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Bormioli Rocco Romantic Water Glass [Set Of 4] | 10.25 oz Premium Glass Set For Refreshments, Soda & Beverages | Italian Quality Glassware, Perfect For Dinner Parties, Bars & Restaurants](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71ZD86vYj4L._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Making eye contact when saying prost is also important; some Austrians believe it is bad luck not to do so
When saying "prost" ("cheers" in Austrian), it is important to make eye contact with your drinking companions. This tradition is taken seriously by Austrians, with some believing that failure to do so will result in bad luck, or even "seven years of bad sex".
The word "prost" comes from the Latin word "prosit", which means to wish good health before drinking. It is used in the same way as "cheers" in Austria, when clinking glasses with others. It is considered rude to start drinking before you have said "prost" to everyone at the table and they have returned the compliment.
There are several nuances to the "prost" ritual. For example, if someone arrives at the table late, it is customary to apologise for having started drinking before saying "prost" to them. Additionally, there are differing opinions on whether you should only clink glasses with others drinking alcohol, or if you should include those drinking non-alcoholic beverages as well.
Whatever the nuances, making eye contact when saying "prost" is an important part of the ritual. So, if you want to socialise like a local and impress your Austrian friends, be sure to look them in the eye as you clink glasses and say "prost"!
Flixbus in Austria: An Affordable Way to Travel
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Prost!
Like it rhymes with "toast" in dialect-free British English.
You can say "zum Wohl", which means "to your health".
The word comes from the Latin "prosit", which means to wish good health before drinking.
It is considered rude to start drinking before saying 'Prost' and clinking glasses with everyone at the table. You should also make eye contact with the person you are toasting with.
