28 ways to say 'Cheers' around the world

Did you know that the tradition of clinking your glass with others before drinking in company and saying 'cheers' goes back thousands of years?

The ritual is believed to be derived from the Greek word kara, which means 'head' and from the ancient French word chiere ('face'). So in theory it means 'to be of good cheer' or to 'put on a happy face'.

See also: How to drink your way around the world

See also: Brits are the worst at speaking foreign languages abroad

But just why we insist on clinking glasses remains a bit of a mystery to this day. One theory is that in the past we did it so that some of each drink spilled into the other, proving that each was free from poison. Another is that glasses were clinked together in order to frighten the devil and any demons out of the drinks.

A more recent notion, however, suggests it shows an appreciation among revelers for all five senses: sight, taste, smell, and, with the clinking, sound and touch.

Whatever the reason, the ritual is alive and kicking all over the world, and this handy video will help you say it in a number of places around the world.

Brits abroad are notorious for not speaking the language of their chosen destinations - so this handy guide from MoveHub will at least mean you can have a drink in company without causing offence.

Salut!

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