15 Ukrainian & Russian Toasts That Will Make You Laugh, Cry & Reaching For Another Shot!

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A Toast to Tradition: The Art of Drinking with Heart and Humor in Ukraine

Discover why Ukrainians turn every sip into a story, blending heartfelt tradition with vodka-soaked hilarity. These toasts aren’t just words, they’re a masterclass in connection, culture, and making sure you never drink alone.

Raise a Glass and Buckle Up: My Crash Course in Ukrainian Toasting

When I first stepped into a Ukrainian family dinner, I thought I was prepared.

I’d eaten the borscht, survived the Cyrillic street signs, and even practiced saying “cheers” in Ukrainian (it’s “Будьмо!”, if you’re wondering).

But nothing and I mean, nothing, prepared me for the emotional rollercoaster of Ukrainian toasting.

From poetic tributes to belly-busting jokes, every toast carried more weight than the Vodka or Gorilka that followed.

By the time the fourth toast hit, I realized I wasn’t just drinking, I was smack dab in the middle of an elaborate social ritual where every word, every glance, every sip mattered.

Just as I felt I had it down, my girlfriend’s father stood, raised his glass, and delivered a toast that shattered everything I thought I knew about Ukrainian culture.

What Is Toasting, Ukrainian-Style?

Toasting in Ukraine isn’t a casual “cheers.” It’s a ritual with rules, some unwritten, others practically sacred.

  • Rule one: maintain eye contact when clinking glasses, or you might as well insult their babushka’s borscht.
  • Rule two: follow the toast order.

The first is to health, but things quickly escalate to heartfelt speeches about love, family, and patriotism, like Shakespeare, but with more vodka or Ukrainian Gorilka.

And when it’s time to toast the ladies? 

Stand up! 

Staying seated is like showing up to a wedding without a gift, awkward and unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.

Most importantly, always drink after the toast. Skipping your sip?

That’s basically declaring war on your host.

Break any of these rules, and trust me, the fallout will last longer than your hangover…

Russian-Speaking Ukrainians: Toasting Across Two Worlds

In Ukraine, toasting isn’t just about the words — it’s the delivery. For Russian-speaking Ukrainians, it’s a tightrope walk between two cultures.

One moment, they’re honoring family history in Russian, the next, they’re shouting “Будьмо!” (Let us be!) with Ukrainian gusto.

It’s cultural fusion, one shot at a time.

During the Soviet era, Russian dominated public life, especially in cities like Kyiv, but Ukrainian culture thrived in homes, music, and toasts.

Now, with a revival of Ukrainian pride, toasts like “Слава Україні!” (Glory to Ukraine!) are taking the spotlight, even among Russian speakers.

Here’s the twist: these toasts are more than words, they’re subtle declarations of identity and resilience. 

Sometimes, they’re even show-stoppers.

Like that one time a toast made my host laugh, cry, and reach for bottle number two in the same breath…

Vodka with Heart: Emotional and Patriotic Toasts That Stir the Soul

Ukrainian toasts hit harder than the vodka, straight to the heart.

Take ”За любов!” (“To love!”), a toast so heartfelt it could make a Hallmark movie feel underwhelming.

Or ”За батьків!” (“To the parents!”), which can transform the gruffest uncle into a misty-eyed philosopher with one sip.

But the real show-stoppers? The patriotic toasts. ”За Україну!” (“To Ukraine!”) and ”Слава Україні!” (“Glory to Ukraine!”) are pure power moves, uniting everyone in the room with glasses raised and hearts swelling.

And when the rallying cry ”Героям слава!” (“Glory to the heroes!”) echoes back, it’s not just a toast, it’s a moment of defiance and hope.

Of course, the best toast I ever heard was unscripted, delivered by a tipsy grandmother.

Somehow, in one sentence, she roasted her son-in-law, cracked everyone up, and left us all teary-eyed.

Ukrainian toasts: always emotional, often hilarious, and totally unpredictable. What’s next? 

You never know, but you’ll definitely want to stay for it.

Humor in the Glass: The Funniest Ukrainian Toasts

Not every Ukrainian toast will make you cry ,  some are comedy gold. Take ”Щоб завжди було за що і з ким!” (“May we always have something to drink for and someone to drink with!”), it’s (as the Brits say, cheeky), clever, and often guarantees a refill.

Or ”Чтобы всегда было за что выпить!” (“May we always have something to drink for!”), perfect for celebrating anything from a promotion to surviving a bad Monday.

The real gems, though, are improvised.

Like the time my landlord in Donetsk, a man with family ties in Moscow but who had a special place in his heart for his Ukrainian roots, raised his glass and declared, “To Ukraine, may we always be free, and may my relatives in Moscow finally learn to cook proper borscht!”

The room erupted in laughter, except for his wife, who rolled her eyes and muttered something about his obsession with food.

Of course, humor can backfire.

Once, I butchered a toast so badly that I accidentally said something wildly inappropriate.

I had stressed the wrong syllable on the word “to write” and it roughly translated, “to piss”…

The room exploded in laughter, not the good kind. But that disaster earned me a warm toast of my own, welcoming me into the group.

Little did I know, the next toast would completely change the tone of the evening…

The Future of Toasting in Ukraine

Toasting in Ukraine is evolving, and younger generations are shaking things up.

Gone are the days of defaulting to Russian. I saw this more and more often after the Euromaidan events of 2013-2014.

Now, it’s all about proudly raising a glass with “Будьмо!” or “Слава Україні!”, reclaiming cultural identity with every cheer.

The settings have leveled up too.

What once happened in cramped kitchens now thrives in trendy bars, but the heart of toasting remains: heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply patriotic. 

Each toast I’ve seen is a masterclass in humor, emotion, and tradition.

And every time I hear the resounding “Будьмо!”, I wonder, what unforgettable twist will the next toast bring?

Raising a Glass to Connection and Culture

Toasting in Ukraine isn’t just tradition, it’s storytelling with a shot of vodka.

From tearful tributes to parents to rowdy cheers for family members far away, every toast is packed with heart and history.

For Russian-speaking Ukrainians, it’s also a cultural balancing act, blending two languages to celebrate one identity.

So, the next time you’re at a Ukrainian table, whether in a cozy flat or a swanky Kyiv café, don’t just mumble “cheers.”

Lock eyes, lift your glass, and dive into the art of the toast. As they say in Ukraine, “Будьмо!”

Toast Cheat Sheet: Your Guide to 15 Ukrainian and Russian Toasts

Classic Ukrainian Toasts
1. Будьмо! — “Let us be!”
Pronunciation: “BOOD-mo!”
Occasion: Universal.

2. На здоров’я! — “To health!”
Pronunciation: “Nah zdoh-ROH-vyah!”
Occasion: General well-being.

3. За любов! — “To love!”
Pronunciation: “Zah loo-BOHV!”
Occasion: Romantic or heartfelt gatherings.

4. За мир! — “To peace!”
Pronunciation: “Zah MEER!”
Occasion: Reflective or patriotic moments.

5. “За батьків!” — “To the parents!”
Pronunciation: “Zah baht-KEEV!”
Occasion: Family celebrations.

6. За дітей! — “To the children!”
Pronunciation: “Zah dee-TYEH!”
Occasion: Celebrating the younger generation.

7. За Україну! — “To Ukraine!”
Pronunciation: “Zah Oo-krah-YEE-noo!”
Occasion: Patriotic gatherings.

Classic Russian Toasts
8. За здоровье! — “To health!”
Pronunciation: “Zah zdah-ROV-yeh!”
Occasion: Universally used.

9. За любовь! — “To love!”
Pronunciation: “Zah loo-BOHV!”
Occasion: Romantic celebrations.

10. За мир! — “To peace!”
Pronunciation: “Zah MEER!”
Occasion: Reflective or patriotic moments.

11. За родителей! — “To the parents!”
Pronunciation: “Zah roh-DEE-tee-lyeh!”
Occasion: Family events.

12. За детей! — “To the children!”
Pronunciation: “Zah dee-TYEH!”
Occasion: Youth-focused celebrations.

13. Чтобы всегда было за что выпить! — “May we always have something to drink for!”
Pronunciation: “SHTOH-bee vsee-GDAH BOO-loh zah shtoh VIP-eet!”
Occasion: Humorous, informal.

Toasts for the Ladies

In Ukrainian:
14. “За жінок!” — To the women!
– Pronunciation: “Zah ZHEE-nok!”
– Occasion: Celebrations honoring women , especially on International Women’s Day or family events.

In Russian:
15. “За женщин!” — “To the women!”
– Pronunciation: “Zah ZHEN-sheen!”
– Occasion: Similar to Ukrainian, used to celebrate and honor women during special gatherings.

Both toasts are heartfelt tributes, traditionally delivered with men standing up to show respect. 

Now you’re ready to toast like a local, just don’t forget the eye contact! Cheers!

Or as they say in Ukraine, “Будьмо!”

Researching this article was a nostalgic journey for me, reviving toasts I’d nearly forgotten since leaving Ukraine.

Here are the sources I had used for this article and to revive my own memory. 

Sources