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 is that 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.
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.
Thirsty for Oktoberfest? The beer tents await you.
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