Author Topic: Cheers! - 'Na zdroviye' or 'Za zdroviye'? (Read 3571 times)

Ste · « **on:** January 02, 2008, 12:56:15 PM »

We had a huge debate about this Russian toast, our German friends (arrogantly) insisted that the Russian toast when downing a drink is 'Na zdroviye'.

Also, in the movie 'The Fourth Protocol' the US airman drinking with Russian spy Pierce Brosnan says to him 'Na zdroviye - that's Russky for 'up yours'' - Spy or not, I would have corrected his grammar.

My sweetie says the toast is 'Za zdroviye' - and after this she was on the phone home taking the piss with her family "blah-blah in russian 'na zdroviye' blah blah in russian 'za zdroviye - hahahahaha!" in a kind of 'aren't they stupid' tone. U guys know that tone of voice even in Russian oh so well I'm sure...

So, Russian ladies, let's hear it.....

BTW, my many unopened as of yet bottles of UK brewed Baltika No.3 have on the label....

"...so, cheers!! - na zdroviye!'

Perpetuating the myth?

SANDRO43 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 02, 2008, 05:01:58 PM »

Quote from: Ste on January 02, 2008, 12:56:15 PM

So, Russian ladies, let's hear it.....

Not that I am a Russian lady

, but I recall one (my grandmother) explaining the marginal difference as:

- Na sdorovye: For/(Be)In health (generic)
- Za vashe sdorovye: To your health (more personalised)

Up to 1917, that is. Cannot guarantee for later

.

Toasting to health is almost universal: Your health !, Salute !, Santé !, Prosit (from Latin)!, Kan pei !, ¡ A la salud ! etc.

Lily · « **Reply #2 on:** January 02, 2008, 10:56:39 PM »

Bravo Sandro! I cannot help admiring your well-reasoned comments.

Ste · « **Reply #3 on:** January 03, 2008, 03:18:23 AM »

But doesn't 'za' mean 'for' as in 'for the benefit of'? So Za zdroviye must mean 'For (the benefit of our/your/etc) health'?

'Na' means 'in' or 'on' ie na zdroviye must imply 'in health'? Or am I too literal?

Lily · « **Reply #4 on:** January 03, 2008, 03:26:39 AM »

Ste, right, that kind of approach seems to be too literal in this case.

Jet · « **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2008, 04:31:15 AM »

According to my Lil, as I am in no way an expert,
Na Zdroviye
Would not generally be used as a toast ever. It is used in regular conversation and is synonymous with Pazhalusta ( a way to say "Your welcome")
Za Zdroviye
Would be a proper toast, at least in her part of Russia.

Another important toast is
Za Zhezin
Anyone care to take a guess as to it's meaning?

(hint, it's slang so your dictionary ain't going to help)

Serebro · « **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2008, 06:19:34 AM »

I agree with Jet
za zdorov'ye is a toast
na zdorov'ye=you are welcome.

Lily · « **Reply #7 on:** January 03, 2008, 06:23:47 AM »

Jet, could I assist you a bit?

it should be Za Zhenshtchin

it is not slang, just a normal very usual word. We wrote here the phonetic transcription only, with voice stress highlighted. So eventually one has to know the word by sound

SANDRO43 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 03, 2008, 07:03:06 AM »

Quote from: Lily on January 03, 2008, 06:23:47 AM

Jet, could I assist you a bit? it should be Za Zhenshtchin

Could that be the equivalent of our Viva le donne !? I always liked that one

.

Lily · « **Reply #9 on:** January 03, 2008, 07:21:49 AM »

Sandro -

SANDRO43 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 03, 2008, 07:40:15 AM »

For a list of toasts in various languages, see http://www.billcasselman.com/new_years_page/toast_origin.htm.

Photo Guy · « **Reply #11 on:** January 03, 2008, 03:07:47 PM »

Na sdorovye: For/(Be)In health (generic)
- Za vashe sdorovye: To your health (more personalised)

How do those two look in cyrllic? -doug

SANDRO43 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 03, 2008, 03:20:43 PM »

Quote from: Photo Guy on January 03, 2008, 03:07:47 PM

Na sdorovye: For/(Be)In health (generic)
- Za vashe sdorovye: To your health (more personalised)
How do those two look in cyrllic? -doug

- HА ЗДОРОВЬЕ
- ЗА ВАШЕ ЗДОРОВЬЕ

jb · « **Reply #13 on:** January 03, 2008, 03:55:00 PM »

Let the Russians make the toasts, just respond with; "Vasha Torsha", you'd do fine.

Misha · « **Reply #14 on:** January 03, 2008, 04:00:02 PM »

Quote from: jb on January 03, 2008, 03:55:00 PM

Let the Russians make the toasts, just respond with; "Vasha Torsha", you'd do fine.

Ваша торша? Never heard of this and checked all my dictionaries and the word does not seem to exist.

Photo Guy · « **Reply #15 on:** January 03, 2008, 04:02:31 PM »

Vasha Torsha
What does that mean? Cyrillic spelling?

jb · « **Reply #16 on:** January 03, 2008, 04:14:57 PM »

It simply means, "to you, also", perhaps my transliteration doesn't meet your dictionary's requirements, but almost any Russian would understand it.

Misha · « **Reply #17 on:** January 03, 2008, 04:31:56 PM »

Okay, you mean "тоже."

jb · « **Reply #18 on:** January 03, 2008, 04:35:39 PM »

Yeah,,, whatever.... No need to get picky on us.

Jet · « **Reply #19 on:** January 03, 2008, 05:03:08 PM »

Quote from: Lily on January 03, 2008, 06:23:47 AM

Jet, could I assist you a bit? it should be Za Zhenshtchin

it is not slang, just a normal very usual word. We wrote here the phonetic transcription only, with voice stress highlighted. So eventually one has to know the word by sound

Ahh, different toast completely Lily it is not "for women"

My wife says you may understand it more clearly if the transliteration is more in Russian way
Za Zhizn'

Любэ (Nikolai Rastorguev) has a song which mentions it - Daviy Za...

SANDRO43 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 03, 2008, 05:43:49 PM »

Quote from: Jet on January 03, 2008, 05:03:08 PM

My wife says you may understand it more clearly if the transliteration is more in Russian way Za Zhizn'

"To life" ? Transliteration/transcription is always a mess

.

Daveman · « **Reply #21 on:** January 03, 2008, 10:11:34 PM »

Well, I can tell you one NOT to use... first trip to FSU, and wanted to have a real Russian toast ready for action... so practiced the pronunciation got it all set.. and waited for just the right moment at a party with the lady's family.. a few toasts were made, and then they looked at me for one...

ZA MIR Y DRUZHBU!!!

The room goes quiet.. and her older brother asks.. "You are communist?" So, I tried to remember the first toast of this thread, and blurted out in my infinite wisdom "BUDZDAROV!!!" Ah well... that's what they say after a sneeze.... Then it became a huge laugh.. at that precise moment I saw into the future and read jb's words up there "Leave the toasts to the Russians" and decided to keep quiet and get plastered... I had much more success with the alternate plan..

It seems if you grab something out of a 40 year old book in the library.. you get what you get.. I think it actually means "To peace and friendship".. but appears to be a disdained phrase from the communist era.

Dave

Shadow · « **Reply #22 on:** January 04, 2008, 03:57:20 AM »

If you feel getting plastered and the Russians want you to toast, there is a simple one that will make them laugh.
Just say 'Goodbye'

Jet · « **Reply #23 on:** January 04, 2008, 07:48:14 PM »

Quote from: SANDRO43 on January 03, 2008, 05:43:49 PM

"To life" ? Transliteration/transcription is always a mess .

You got it Sandro

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Author Topic: Cheers! - 'Na zdroviye' or 'Za zdroviye'? (Read 3571 times)

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