Ukrainians don’t just drink - they toast. And if you think a toast is just a quick 'cheers' before gulping down your drink, you’re about to be schooled. Ukrainian toasts are elaborate, heartfelt, and sometimes borderline theatrical. Miss the mark, and you’ll stick out like a teetotaller at a wedding.
The Basics: How Not to Screw It Up
First rule: eye contact. Break it, and you’re cursed with seven years of bad luck (or at least seven awkward social gatherings). Second rule: don’t toast with an empty glass. That’s not just rude - it’s practically a crime. Third rule: if someone’s giving a toast, you shut up and listen. Interrupting is like cutting in line at the borscht buffet - just don’t.
- Hold your glass at chest level until it’s your turn to speak.
- Clink glasses with everyone, but gently. Smashing crystal isn’t as cool as it sounds.
- Drink after the toast, not during. Chugging mid-speech is a rookie move.
Classic Ukrainian Toasts (And When to Use Them)
Na zdorov'ya
/nɑ zdoroʋjɑ/“To health”
Budmo
/budmo/“Let us be”
Za kohannya
/zɑ koɦɑnnjɑ/“To love”
The Unwritten Rules (AKA How to Avoid Side-Eyes)
Ukrainian toasting isn’t just about what you say - it’s about how you say it. Here’s what won’t be in any etiquette manual but will definitely earn you respect:
- The first toast is always to the host or the occasion. Jumping straight to 'let’s get wasted' is tacky.
- If you’re the guest of honour, prepare a speech. Two sentences minimum, no rambling.
- Toasting with water? Only if you want to symbolically drown your friendships.
For more on Slavic drinking etiquette, check out our guide to Russian small talk - just don’t mix up the languages mid-toast.
Advanced Moves for the Ambitious
Once you’ve nailed the basics, it’s time to level up. Try these next time you want to impress (or confuse) your Ukrainian friends:
- Quote Taras Shevchenko. Even if you butcher the pronunciation, the effort counts.
- Toast in rhyming couplets. Extra points if they’re actually funny.
- End with 'Hirko!' ('Bitter!') at weddings. Tradition says the newlyweds have to kiss until it’s 'sweet.'
And if you’re feeling really bold, learn a few phrases from our article on Ukrainian youth slang - just maybe not for Great-Grandma’s 90th birthday.
Final Warning: What Not to Do
- Toast with your left hand. It’s not illegal, but it’s weird.
- Use 'Na zdorov'ya' when someone sneezes. That’s Russian. Ukrainians say 'Bud’ zdorovyy.' Mix them up at your peril.
- Forget to eat. Ukrainian drinking is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself with salo (cured pork fat) and pickles.
