Toasts

[Alina Israeli]

>I've yet to find a consensus, a hard and fast rule, on when to use one or
>the other... even after eight years of rigorous research. (Ahem!)
>"Na" is definitely the most common of the two, and is, indeed, used as a
>toast.

Only in Polish, not in Russian.

>The explanation that makes the most sense, to me, is that "na" is
>preferable when the toast is more general, when no one in particular is
>being addressed. In this way it's kind of like "Cheers!" But "za" is used
>when someone wants to be more specific, to toast to the health of someone
>in particular. That's why "za" is always (in my experience) followed by a
>pronoun (such as "Vashe/vashe " or "nashe"), as in, "Za vashe zdorov'e."

In may make sense but it is all wrong. Factually wrong.

__________________________
 Alina Israeli
 LFS, American University
 4400 Mass. Ave., NW
 Washington, DC 20016

 phone:    (202) 885-2387
 fax:      (202) 885-1076

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                    http://seelangs.home.comcast.net/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------