skol: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “skol” mean?
A drinking toast or cheer meaning 'good health' or 'cheers'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A drinking toast or cheer meaning 'good health' or 'cheers'.
Used as a verb meaning to drink (especially beer) heartily or in one gulp, often in a celebratory or competitive context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly recognized and used in the UK, often in pub culture or football (soccer) contexts. In the US, it is less common and may be seen as a niche or affected borrowing.
Connotations
In the UK, it can have working-class, pub, or sports fan associations. In the US, it may sound deliberately foreign or archaic.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, but higher recognition in the UK.
Grammar
How to Use “skol” in a Sentence
[Subject] skol [Object (beverage)]Skol! (as an interjection)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “skol” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He managed to skol the entire pint in under ten seconds.
- They skolled their beers after the victory.
American English
- He challenged his friend to skol the root beer.
- They skolled the drinks quickly to get back to the game.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Only in historical or cultural studies of Scandinavia.
Everyday
Informal social drinking situations, especially among friends in pubs.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “skol”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Pronouncing it with a hard 'k' followed by a long 'o' (like 'scope').
- Using it as a general synonym for 'drink'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word borrowed from Scandinavian languages, used mainly in informal drinking contexts.
Yes, especially in informal UK/Australian English, meaning to drink something, especially beer, quickly or in one go.
It comes from the Danish/Norwegian/Swedish 'skål', meaning 'bowl' or 'cup', used as a drinking toast.
'Cheers' is the universal, neutral English toast. 'Skol' is more specific, evoking Scandinavian style or hearty, rapid drinking.
A drinking toast or cheer meaning 'good health' or 'cheers'.
Skol is usually informal, colloquial in register.
Skol: in British English it is pronounced /skɒl/, and in American English it is pronounced /skoʊl/ or /skɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Skol the lot!”
- “Skol to that!”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SKOL' as 'School of Lager' – where you learn to drink it fast.
Conceptual Metaphor
DRINKING IS A VICTORIOUS CELEBRATION (as in a Viking feast).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'skol' MOST appropriately used?