Breaking News!!!: What's to say in Russian when you toast with vodka?

 


[JB:] Critical comment via email on this video from a learned Russian-born friend:

Don't trust these girls. Nobody ever uses "За здоровье" alone as a toast. Toasts are always personalized:

За твое здоровье!
За ваше здоровье!
За здоровье детей!
За здоровье будущего президента Байдена! etc

It is also common to drop "здоровье":

За тебя!
За вас!
За детей!
За  будущего президента Байдена! etc


Comments

  1. dnmaxwellNovember 1, 2020 at 7:11 PM

    The first example in the picture uses the preposition 'na'. How is this different from 'za'? Can 'na' also be used with these various personalizations?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John Brown's Notes and Essays, including on Public DiplomacyNovember 2, 2020 at 2:31 AM

      Great question from a learned linguist. But, while sharing a glass of vodka with Russian friends, it was never a question that I (or they) asked ... :)

      Delete

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