Ein Prosit Song - Lyrics, Pronunciation and Video (2024)

All of Munich’s Oktoberfest Music features traditional German bands and every 10 or 20 minutes they break into a song called Ein Prosit. Knowing the lyrics to this is essential knowledge when visiting Oktoberfest, and the good news isthat it’s easy to learn.

Just follow our handy guide to this song and watch the video below to hear it.

Ein Prosit song lyrics (German)

Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit
Ein Prosit, ein Prosit
Der Gemütlichkeit

How to pronounce Ein Prosit

Ayn Prawseet, Ayn Prawseet
Dare Gae-meet-lich-kite
Ayn Prawseet, Ayn Prawseet
Dare Gae-meet-lich-kite

After the band plays this song, everyone raises their glasses and says: “Oans, zwoa, drei, Gsuffa!” meaning “one, two, three, drink!”.

You must sing this song, and drink after each song. It’s the law.

Ein Prosit Song - Lyrics, Pronunciation and Video (1)

Raise your beers and sing along to Ein Prosit. The band plays it every 20 minutes or so.

Want to know what the words actually mean? Here’s an English translation of the lyrics.

A toast, a toast
To cheer and good times
A toast, a toast
To cheer and good times

Followed by the band calling out: ONE, TWO, THREE, DRINK! Everyone then drinks from their beer and is happy.

An alternative closing phrase from the band is “Prost ihr Säcke!” (Cheers, you ball-sacks!), to which the crowd replies in unison “Prost du Sack!” (Cheers, you ball-sack!). Nobody actually knows how that version came about.

At other German festivals the song is often followed by “Schenkt ein, trinkt aus, schenkt ein, trinkt aus!”, meaning “I poured you one, drink up, I poured you one, drink up!” You have to hand it to the Germans for getting their priorities right.

Listen to Ein Prosit here

Like what you’re reading and hearing? Well there’s nothing quite like the real thing, so join us in the beer tents of Oktoberfest and you’ll be singing this song all day and raising beers at the greatest festival in the world.

Ein Prosit Song - Lyrics, Pronunciation and Video (2)

Thirsty for Oktoberfest? The beer tents await you.

Ein Prosit Song - Lyrics, Pronunciation and Video (2024)

FAQs

What is the German drinking chant? ›

Usually every 20 minutes they initiate a quick break – which is obviously created for drinking beer– by playing the well-known song “Ein Prosit”. After this short song is finished, everyone raises their huge glasses with the words: “Oans, zwoa, drei, Gsuffa!” meaning “one, two, three, drink!”.

What is the traditional Oktoberfest chant? ›

At Oktoberfest, every 15 minutes or so, the band will play the traditional German drinking song, Ein Prosit, and the entire tent will sing along. Its lyrics roughly translate to “A toast, a toast of comfort!”, and if there is one song you need to learn before heading to Munich, it's this one.

What is the German chugging song? ›

Ein Prosit song lyrics (German)

After the band plays this song, everyone raises their glasses and says: “Oans, zwoa, drei, Gsuffa!” meaning “one, two, three, drink!”. You must sing this song, and drink after each song. It's the law. Raise your beers and sing along to Ein Prosit.

What is the traditional German celebration song? ›

I Salute You (Ein Prosit): Ein Prosit is THE song of Oktoberfest as it is played like clockwork in the beer tents every 15 minutes.

What do Germans say before drinking? ›

Prost! Translation: Cheers! Toss on an “Ein Toast!” at the end to encourage a celebratory “bottoms up!” before drinking your Märzen with friends.

What does ziggy zaggy oi oi oi mean? ›

“Ziggy Zaggy, Ziggy Zaggy, Oi Oi Oi!” What's all that gibberish about? It's the ending to a song called “Ein Prosit” a traditional German toast to health and well-being.

What do Germans yell at Oktoberfest? ›

O'zapft is, in particular, is the most iconic of Oktoberfest sayings. This is the cry you will here once the Mayor of Munich has tapped the ceremonial keg, thus kicking off the entire two-week-long event.

What do Germans say instead of cheers? ›

Easily the most common way of saying cheers in German, prost is an expression that means “to life” or “to health.” (It also rhymes with toast!) Additionally, you can say ain prost, meaning “a toast,” to let everyone know you're in the mood to raise your glass.

What does "zicke zacke" mean in German? ›

Every so often, the band would stop its number and bid us raise our glasses with this refrain: “Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi!” (meaning something like “A toast, a toast, a cozy place!

What is the forbidden German song? ›

'The Flag High'), was the anthem of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) from 1930 to 1945. From 1933 to 1945, the Nazis made it the co-national anthem of Germany, along with the first stanza of the "Deutschlandlied". The "Horst-Wessel-Lied" has been banned in Germany and Austria since the end of World War II.

What is the German bride song? ›

The "Bridal Chorus" (German: "Treulich geführt") from the 1850 opera Lohengrin by German composer Richard Wagner, who also wrote the libretto, is a march played for the bride's entrance at many formal weddings throughout the Western world.

What is the German drinking music called? ›

In Germany, drinking songs are called Trinklieder. In Sweden, where they are called dryckesvisor, there are drinking songs associated with Christmas, Midsummer, and other celebrations. An example of such a song is "Helan går".

Do Germans have a happy birthday song? ›

"Wie schön, dass du geboren bist" Lyrics. Although the English version of "Happy Birthday to You" remains the most common song heard at German birthday parties, this song is just as popular. It is one of the few German birthday songs to gain widespread popularity in German-speaking countries.

What is Germany's national animal? ›

The Golden Eagle is the most common official national animal in the world—it's the emblem of Albania, Germany, Austria, Mexico, and Kazakhstan.

What is the German salute when drinking? ›

An important one to note is “Prost! ', your German version of “Cheers!”, which you can use in all types of situations. And don't forget your please and thank you in German when ordering a round.

What does "zicke zacke hoi" mean? ›

Every so often, the band would stop its number and bid us raise our glasses with this refrain: “Zicke, zacke, zicke, zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi!” (meaning something like “A toast, a toast, a cozy place! One, two, three, drink!”)

What do you say when you drink in Germany? ›

It's common to clink glasses with a "Prost" ("cheers") or "Zum Wohl" ("good health") before drinking.

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