What is a Skål?

language humanities

A skål is a Scandinavian toast of friendship and goodwill which may be offered when drinking, sitting down to eat, or at a formal event. Some fans of Scandinavian culture have popularized the skål beyond its native countries, and it can often be heard in many peculiar corners of the world, especially in regions with a large Scandinavian population. You may also see skål spelled as skal or skaal.

Like other toasts, a skål implies a wish for good fortune and good health, and it carries very friendly connotations. There are a number of different ways to say skål, ranging from a series of individual toasts in which everyone toasts everyone else, taking a sip of a drink with each toast, and a collective skål shouted out by a group of drinkers or diners. As one might imagine, in a series of individual skåls in which everyone salutes each person individually, one tends to become rather intoxicated by the end.

Several Norse poems saluting famous figures have included a “skål” or two in the lines, as in the case of “Gustaf's skål,” an 18th century song which the king later adopted as his official anthem, because he was so fond of it. In poems such as Gustaf's skål, the celebrant of the skål is typically highly praised, with lines like “the greatest king in the north.” At some parties, people may improvise their own extended speech or toast, especially at an event where people are celebrating a marriage or another major life event.

As a casual toast, “skål” can be likened to “cheers” or “slainte,” words which often pop up in bars as people salute each other before each round of drinks. Skål has become so associated with drinking that several companies which make beer and liquor have a drink called “skål” in their lines. In a reference to the harsh winters in Scandinavia, a skål is often a winter beer.

Several organizations also use skål in their names, referencing the idea that they were founded to celebrate friendship and goodwill.

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5
Skol (written skål in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, and sometimes "Skoal" in English) is the Danish/Norwegian/Swedish word for a salute or a toast, as to an admired person or group. The meaning of the Scandinavian skalli/skalle: skal means simply "shell" and skál/skål "bowl". There is a popular misconception that the toast comes from the mythical habit of Vikings to drink from cups made from the skulls of their defeated enemies.
- anon44860
4
in Icelandic you spell it skál...

But it's true, I've also heard that skál is related to skull. That's why I don't make toasts here in Iceland saying that word. The origins of the ceremony is revolting; vikings killing other human beings, beheading them, removing the flesh from their skull, cutting the upper part of it away, scoop out the brains and drinking mead out of it!!! absolutely repulsive!!!

would *you* ever do that?

- anon35060
3
skaal also comes from the english word skull ..because the vikings used to drink from the skulls from the enemies in scotland. they used the munks heads "skull" to drink mead ..so they raised the skulls and shouted skåååål ..because they had poor english accents ..skull .. so there u go...skål!!!
- anon26132
2
I thought that it was spelled "skoal." That is the way I remember a Norwegian and a Swede saying it. Perhaps the "a" comes out "oa."
- anon15637
1
A comment to the information upon the word "Skål" "Skaal" - the AA is a way of writing Å, for those who do not have a scandinavian keyboard.

Skaal also means a bowl and in ancient times the word skaal meant, that to propose a toast you said/yelled skaal, which meant that you should drink your bowl or ordering it to be filled.

- Janni

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Written by S.E. Smith
Last Modified: 11 September 2009

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