In Thai culture, drinking is important in celebrating special occasions and building relationships with friends and loved ones. Whether it’s a wedding, birthday, or just a casual night out with friends, alcohol is often a vital component of the festivities. Sharing some Singha beers (or other alcoholic drinks) with someone is seen as a symbol of friendship and trust, and it’s considered impolite to refuse a drink offered by a host or friend.
Whether it’s a big milestone or a small victory, every achievement or special event deserves to be celebrated. In Thai culture, gatherings over a meal or drinks are a common way to mark these occasions. We’ll guide you through the correct pronunciation and usage of this meaningful phrase so you can join the celebration confidently and respectfully. So let’s raise a glass and learn to say cheers in Thai!
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Ways To Say Cheers In Thai
If you’re celebrating with Thai friends or attending a special occasion in Thailand, knowing how to say “cheers” is an integral part of the festivities. Raising a glass and toasting with friends and loved ones is a common way to mark special occasions and build relationships in Thai culture. However, the correct way to say cheers in Thai can vary depending on the situation and the relationship between the individuals involved. In this section, we’ll guide you through the different ways to say “cheers” in Thai and help you understand when and how to use them appropriately.
Fun fact: The word “cheers” originated from the French word “chiere,” which translates to “head” or “face.” Its meaning, later on, changed into “gladness,” that’s now used as words of encouragement.
1. Cheers!
It’s a loan word from the English language, and Thai people typically use it. You’d like to use it when drinking wine with your friends to make things a little fancier for everyone.
2. Chon Gɛ̂ɛo – ชนแก้ว
This phrase is from the original Thai language, and the first word, chon (ชน), translates to crash or knock against, while gɛ̂ɛo (แก้ว) means glasses. So, if you put these two phrases in a sentence, it means hitting glasses or “touch glasses.”
3. Chai Yoo – ไชโย
Chai yoo (ไชโย) is the more casual yet not-so-frequent word used to say cheers in Thai. You’ll typically hear people say this during birthday toasts or weddings, similar to the exclamation “hooray”. However, it’s not likely used in regular drinking sessions.
4. Mòt Gɛ̂ɛo – หมดแก้ว
This doesn’t directly translate to cheers in Thai, but it means “Bottoms up!” which eventually makes it quite similar to the latter. Nonetheless, it’s still like what most western countries use.
5. Chôok Dii – โชคดี
This phrase literally means good luck in Thai. It’s also another good way to say cheers in Thai.
Drinking Etiquette In Thailand
After learning about the many ways you can try to say cheers in Thai, you would probably want to discover manners you need to remember when drinking. We all know that these things vary in different countries, so here’s a tip that you should take note of when offering a toast to a person from Thailand.
1. The Legal Age To Drink Is 18 To 20.
It’s a piece of common knowledge for most people, but at some point, people might forget that age matters when entering a bar. So, make sure to bring your I.D. with you when drinking in Thailand. Some say that they don’t check a foreigner’s age when going for a drink, but would you really risk it?
2. Pouring Someone A Drink
It’s unsurprising to hear that offering someone a drink is polite. So, if you’re doing this already, cheers to you then.
3. Be Wary Of Spiked Drinks
If you’re drinking alone or with a few friends, always keep an eye on your drinks. As a responsible traveler, we highly recommend never leaving your glasses unattended on your table, as someone may slip a drug into your bottle. You wouldn’t want to put yourself in danger to say cheers, wouldn’t you?
4. Don’t Drink In Parks Or Temples
The locals from Thailand have high respect for their gods. So, you’d want to save your cheer somewhere else, since other public places allow drinks. Always check the signboards before opening a bottle of beer or any drink.
5. Don’t Drink In Public Places During Buddhist Holidays
It’s known to be illegal to drink and sell alcoholic beverages in public places during these religious events. So, you may want to postpone raising a toast when these celebrations occur.
6. No To Drunken Behavior
Losing control is quite common when drinking in other countries. However, if you happen to do this in Thailand, it can take a toll on your image. Thais don’t find it hilarious! Instead, they feel secondhand embarrassment from your actions. So, you better keep your cool when taking hard beers!
How Do You Say “Cheers” In Thai?
There are many ways to say cheers in Thai, but the most common phrase you’ll hear is ชนแก้ว (chon gɛ̂ɛo) .
Related Vocabulary
Below you’ll find all the words for cheers in Thai that we’ve discussed. In addition, there are a couple phrases if you’d like to ask for another drink or if you’ve had enough for now:
| English | Thai | Pronunciation | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheers! | ชนแก้ว | chon gɛ̂ɛo | |
| Hooray | ไชโย | chai yoo | |
| Bottoms up | หมดแก้ว | mòt gɛ̂ɛo | |
| Good luck | โชคดี | chôok dii | |
| Can I order one more drink? | ฉันสั่งเครื่องดื่มเพิ่มอีกแก้วได้ไหม? | chǎn sàng krʉ̂ang dʉ̀ʉm pə̂əm ìik gɛ̂ɛo dâi mǎi | |
| I’ve drank enough for now | ฉันดื่มเพียงพอแล้ว | chǎn dʉ̀ʉm piang pɔɔ lɛ́ɛo |
If you’d like to learn more Thai phrases and vocabulary, don’t hesitate to check out the Ling app!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Do You Toast In Thai?
The best ways to toast in Thai is by saying ชนแก้ว (chon gɛ̂ɛo), ไชโย (chai yoo), or หมดแก้ว (mòt gɛ̂ɛo). These words all mean cheers in Thai, so take your pick!
2. What Does “Chok Dee” Mean?
“Chok dee”, or chôok dii (โชคดี), means “good luck” in Thai. It’s most commonly used to say “goodbye” or as a toast while drinking with others.
3. What Does “Chon Kaew” Mean?
“Chon kaew”, or chon gɛ̂ɛo (ชนแก้ว), is a way of saying cheers in Thai. Its literal translation is to “touch glasses.”
Cheers!
Now that we’ve come to the end of this guide and covered all the different ways to say cheers in Thai, you’re ready for a fun night out in Bangkok’s bustling nightlife. Drinking may seem like an excellent way to celebrate something, but remember that your health is important too. So, make sure you’re in good shape before offering a toast.
If you’re in learning more about Thai culture, possibly for a trip to Thailand. Try getting to know the basics of Thai food, or how to say greetings in Thai first!
