Sláinte is How You Say Cheers in (Gaelic) Irish.
Every language has their own word that represents the time-honored tradition of raising a glass together in the celebration of life, family, and friends.
Written by CraftJack | Updated | 2 min read
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For those who speak Gaelic, both Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic, Sláinte is that word. Beyond Ireland and Scotland, it is also used on the Isle of Man.
It's the type of drinking toast you use when you're enjoying a few pints on St. Patrick's Day. Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhuit! - or - Happy St. Patrick's Day, is also acceptable.
Same with drinking green beer, we suppose.
Ever notice how you often see Sláinte painted on the glass windows of Irish pubs? Or, written on the coaster of whatever Irish-style beer that your local bar is selling?
How do you pronounce Sláinte?
Slahn-che or Slawn-che is how you pronounce Sláinte, depending on how you vocalize an "a". Definitely no long vowel sounds here.
It's sorta like saying lawn chair, only add an "S" to start and remove the "ir" at the end.
Does Sláinte translate directly to cheers?
No, the actual translation is "health". You can add other modifiers to change up the meaning a bit if you want. For example, the response to Sláinte could be Sláinte Agatsa, which means, "To Your Health As Well".
U.S. Pubs with Sláinte in the name
Slainte is a great name to build a drinking establishment around. As you can see the United States does not lack for places with the word "Slainte" in their name.
- Sláinte Bar & Bistro (Massachusetts)
- Sláinte Bar & Lounge (New York)
- Sláinte Holyoke (Massachusetts)
- Sláinte Irish Pub (North Carolina)
- Sláinte Irish Pub & Restaurant (Maryland)
- Sláinte Oakland (California)
Is Sláinte Irish or Scottish Gaelic?
Sláinte is both Irish and Scottish in origin. It also belongs to the Isle of Man.