Proudly raising your frothy glass and giving a “Cheers!” with friends, family, and strangers is a staple of German culture. And for toasts, the more direct translation of “cheers” in German is Prost. Learn the most common words and phrases for saying “cheers” in toasts and other contexts, so you can celebrate to your heart’s content.
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1. Prost! (Cheers!)
As the go-to word for “cheers,” Prost in German is pronounced “prohst,” and can be used in just about any drinking environment. You can use it while clicking your glasses with friends and even as a cheerful greeting at informal get-togethers that inspire a party atmosphere.
For formal occasions, you can use these phrases to sound like a native German giving a toast:
- Heben Sie Ihre Gläser, Prost! = Raise your glasses, cheers!
- Prost, alle zusammen! = Cheers, everyone!
Meetups with friends for a drink require a more casual toast, such as:
- Lass uns was trinken, Prost! = Let’s have a drink, cheers!
- Prost, Männer/Mädels! = Cheers, men/ladies!
2. Auf dein Wohl! (To your health!)
In Germany, your social health is viewed as being as important as your physical health. This is seen in communal German beer gardens, where you can hear the German phrase for “cheers,” Auf dein Wohl (To your health). Because of the informal dein (“your,” informal), this should be reserved for when you’re drinking with good friends or people noticeably younger than yourself.
In a more formal, or less-familiar, environment, like your first time drinking at a German pub or with people older than yourself, you can use the formal variation Auf Ihr Wohl (“To your health,” formal). It’s a small change, but it goes a long way in showing respect for your new drinking partners.
- Auf euer Wohl! = To your health! (Plural, informal)
- Auf Ihr Wohlsein! = To your health! (Formal, more old-school)
3. Ein Prosit! (‘a toast,’ formal and ceremonial)
For more formal or ceremonial occasions, the German word for “cheers” becomes Prosit (a toast). This is the appropriate term at festivities like Oktoberfest in Germany, where the band on stage or the master of ceremonies will lead the entire crowd in one big “cheers.”
Ein Prosit is also cemented in the traditional Bavarian drinking song Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit, which is sung with these words during large-group festivities:
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
(A toast, a toast)
Der Gemütlichkeit
(To good cheer)
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
(A toast, a toast)
Der Gemütlichkeit
(To good cheer)
4. Auf uns! (To us!)
Auf uns! (To us!) is how to say “cheers” in German when you want to show appreciation for the people who make your evenings spent over ice-cold mugs worthwhile. Drinking is seen as a social act in Germany meant to help people grow closer together, so it’s no wonder that a popular “cheers” in German celebrates the people of the get-together.
5. Auf ein schönes Leben! (To a beautiful life!)
A bit more poetic, Auf ein schönes Leben! (To a beautiful life!) is a joyous cheer that can border on the overzealous if the group isn’t already a few cups in. For the special occasion, however, this can be a great version of “cheers” to use to show that you’re having a wonderful time and are excited to be at the event.
6. Auf gute Freunde! (To good friends!)
Meeting up with some German friends for the first time in too long? Auf gute Freunde! (To good Friends!) is how to say “cheers” in German in a way that shows your close drinking compatriots that they matter to you, and it highlights the classic German approach to social drinking as a means to build friendships.
7. Auf die Liebe! (To love!)
For the sentimental drinkers out there, Auf die Liebe! (To love!) gives a message that rises above German culture. It’s a message that can be used for“cheers” in different languages around the world. You can also modify this to be a common toast for a wedding, which is Auf euch und die Liebe (To you all and your love).
How to say ‘cheers’ for toasts in different German dialects
Germany is host to a plethora of dialects, each with their own German word and way of saying “cheers” to enshrine the good times spent together.
| German Dialectal ‘Cheers’ | English Translation | Region of Use |
| A guads Nächtle! | A good night! | Baden-Württemberg |
| Denn man tau! | Then let’s do it! | Northern Germany |
| Na denn, Prost! | Well then, cheers! | Northern Germany |
| Nu, Prost! | Well, cheers! | Saxony/Thuringia |
| Op de Gesundheit! | To your health! | Northern Germany |
| Prost zesamme | cheers together | Cologne |
| S’Wohl! | To your health! | Baden-Württemberg |
| Uff die G’sundheit! | To your health! | Palatinate |
| Zum Wohl, ihr Leut! | To your health, folks! | Palatinate |
Words that mean ‘to cheer’ in German
If the good times include rooting for your favorite team or a friend, you’ll need a couple of different words for that.
Anfeuern (to cheer)
Supporting your favorite Fußballmannschaft (soccer team) is another excellent, time-honored German tradition that requires giving “cheers.” This time, anfeuern is a verb which means “to cheer,” rather than giving a toast with friends. This reflects the kind of relaxed, happy cheering you might do for a child at their youth games, rather than the avid, enthusiastic cheers you might hear at the World Cup.
It’s important to remember that anfeuern is a separable verb, meaning the prefix an- is often moved to the end of the sentence.
- Sie feuert ihre Lieblingsmannschaft an. = She cheers for her favorite team.
- Wir feuern unseren Bruder beim Rennen lautstark an. = We cheer loudly for our brother during the race.
Zujubeln (to enthusiastically cheer on)
You’ll need a stronger verb to describe the feeling of zealous cheers that fans and sports enthusiasts give at the height of viewing professional sports, and zujubeln (to enthusiastically cheer on) has you covered. It can also refer to the more celebratory cheering that comes with winning or an outstanding performance.
Keep in mind that zujubeln is a separable verb that reflects the act of cheering others on, and not just a joyful word said before toasting. As such, the prefix zu- is often moved to the end of the sentence when used in an expression.
- Die Menge jubelte dem Sieger begeistert zu. = The crowd cheered enthusiastically for the winner.
- Tausende Fans jubelten dem Sänger beim Auftritt zu. = Thousands of fans enthusiastically cheered the singer on during his performance.
Join in the best moments with Rosetta Stone
The best moments in life are often those you get to participate in, not the ones you simply watch from the sidelines. Rosetta Stone helps you learn German naturally, so you can have the confidence to shout along with everyone else in these special moments. Giving a toast with new friends or joining the roar of a proud crowd are times when language education lets you go beyond simply understanding what’s being said and be part of the excitement of the moment.
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