Raise a glass in Scotland and you'll rarely raise it in silence. Scots have a toast or a saying for every occasion — a word of health, a wish for long life, a bit of dry wit — and most come wrapped in the rich sounds of Scots and Gaelic. Whether you're hosting a Burns supper, seeing in the New Year, or simply sharing a dram, here are the Scottish toasts and sayings worth knowing, with what they mean and how to say them.
Quick Answer: What Do Scots Say When They Toast?
The most common Scottish toast is Slàinte (pronounced "SLAHN-juh"), the Gaelic for "health," often extended to Slàinte Mhath ("SLAHN-juh vah") meaning "good health." Other beloved toasts and sayings include "Lang may yer lum reek" (long may your chimney smoke — a wish for long life and prosperity) and the cheeky "Here's tae us, wha's like us?" Scots toasts tend to mix warmth, wit and a wish for good fortune.
How Do You Say "Cheers" in Scottish Gaelic?
The word you want is Slàinte — literally "health." It is said much like "SLAHN-juh." For a fuller version, Slàinte Mhath means "good health," and a common reply is Slàinte Mhòr, "great health." It is the Scottish equivalent of raising a glass and saying "cheers," and it works at any gathering, from a quiet dram to a full ceilidh. If you learn only one Scottish toast, make it this one.
What Are the Best Traditional Scots Toasts?
- "Lang may yer lum reek" — "long may your chimney smoke." A warm wish that your home stays lived-in, warm and prosperous for many years. Sometimes extended cheekily to "…wi ither folk's coal" (with other people's coal).
- "Here's tae us, wha's like us? Gey few, an' they're a' deid." — "Here's to us; who is like us? Precious few, and they're all dead." A proud, tongue-in-cheek toast to good company.
- "Haste ye back" — "hurry back." A fond farewell said to departing guests, wishing them a swift return.
- "Lang may yer elbow jink" — a playful wish that your arm keeps bending to lift a glass; in other words, long life and good cheer.
What Do You Say at a Burns Supper?
Burns Night, held each January in honour of the poet Robert Burns, has its own toasts. The evening builds to the "Address to a Haggis," the ceremonial toast to the dish itself, and later the "Immortal Memory," a speech and toast raised to the memory of Burns. Glasses are lifted freely throughout, most often with a hearty Slàinte Mhath. It is one of the great nights of the Scottish year, wherever Scots gather in the world.
What Are Good Scottish Wedding and Hogmanay Toasts?
At a wedding, a toast to the couple often wishes them long life, health and happiness, sealed with Slàinte Mhath — and frequently a shared drink from the quaich, the cup of friendship. At Hogmanay, Scotland's famous New Year, glasses are raised as the bells ring in the New Year, followed by the singing of "Auld Lang Syne" — Burns's own song of friendship and remembrance — with hands joined in a circle. Both occasions turn a simple toast into a moment of real connection.
Why Do Scots Have So Many Sayings?
Scotland's love of the well-turned phrase runs deep, shaped by the Scots language, the Gaelic tradition and the towering influence of poets like Burns. A good toast or saying does more than fill a pause — it carries warmth, humour and a share of the national character in a single line. The same love of language shows in Scotland's clan mottos, those short, punchy phrases that distil a whole family's spirit into a few words.
Raise your own family's mug — search your clan or surname in the box above to find heritage drinkware and gifts carrying your crest and tartan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say cheers in Scottish?
Say Slàinte ("SLAHN-juh"), the Gaelic for "health," or the fuller Slàinte Mhath ("SLAHN-juh vah") for "good health."
What does "lang may yer lum reek" mean?
It means "long may your chimney smoke" — a warm wish for a long, prosperous and well-kept home.
What is the traditional Burns Night toast?
The evening features the "Address to a Haggis" and the "Immortal Memory" toast to Robert Burns, with glasses raised throughout, usually with Slàinte Mhath.
What do Scots sing at Hogmanay?
"Auld Lang Syne," Robert Burns's song of friendship and remembrance, sung with joined hands as the New Year is rung in.
Raise a Glass to Your Roots
Every good toast deserves the right cup. Search your clan or surname in the search bar above to find mugs, blankets and heritage gifts carrying your own crest and tartan — ready for the next Slàinte Mhath.
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