Italians say Salute! (sah-LOO-teh, literally "health") or Cin cin! (chin-chin) when they raise their glasses; both are heard everywhere. To toast someone, say Alla tua! (to you), Alla vostra! (to you all) or Alla nostra! (to us). If you mean cheers as in thanks, Italian uses Grazie! instead.
- Classic toast
- Salute!
- Also very common
- Cin cin!
- To us
- Alla nostra!
- Let's make a toast
- Facciamo un brindisi!
- Level
- A1
Salute or cin cin: what do Italians say?
Either. Salute! and Cin cin! are both the normal thing to say as glasses touch. The longer toasts below add who you are drinking to.
| Italian | Meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Salute! | Health! | Any toast, formal or casual |
| Cin cin! | Cheers! | Any toast, as the glasses clink |
| Alla salute! | To (your) health! | A slightly fuller version of salute |
| Alla tua! | To you! | Toasting one person you call tu |
| Alla Sua! | To you! | Toasting one person you address formally as Lei |
| Alla vostra! | To you all! | Toasting a group |
| Alla nostra! | To us! | Toasting with friends or family |
How do you make a toast in Italian?
A toast is un brindisi, and to toast is brindare. To dedicate the toast to someone, use a (to) plus the person, combined with the article where needed: alla nonna, agli sposi.
Facciamo un brindisi!
Let's make a toast!
Alziamo i bicchieri!
Let's raise our glasses!
Brindiamo agli sposi!
Let's drink to the bride and groom!
Un brindisi alla nonna!
A toast to Grandma!
The gesture itself is alzare il bicchiere, to raise your glass. In chapter 1 of a Contos B1 mystery, the class of 2004 has just opened its time capsule at a reunion, and the elderly Italian teacher, signor Osvaldo, raises his glass to make an announcement:
«Io ricordo tutto», annunciò il signor Osvaldo, l'anziano professore di italiano, alzando il bicchiere.What else do Italians say at celebrations?
Some occasions have their own phrase, said with or instead of a toast.
Tanti auguri!
Happy birthday! / Best wishes!
Birthdays, name days, any celebration.
Viva gli sposi!
Long live the bride and groom!
The classic cheer at a wedding.
Congratulazioni!
Congratulations!
Buon appetito!
Enjoy your meal!
Said before eating, not as a toast.
How do you say cheers meaning thanks or goodbye?
In British English, cheers also means thanks or bye. Salute and cin cin only work as toasts, so switch words:
Grazie!
Cheers! (thanks)
Grazie mille!
Thanks a lot!
Ciao, ci vediamo!
Cheers, see you! (goodbye)
Read A1 Italian stories full of everyday phrases like these, and tap any word for its meaning.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
How do you pronounce salute?
Say "sah-LOO-teh", with the stress on the middle syllable and a clear e at the end. Cin cin is pronounced "chin chin", because in Italian c before i sounds like the English ch.
Does salute also mean bless you?
Yes. Italians say Salute! when someone sneezes, as well as when they raise a glass. In both cases it wishes the other person good health.
Should you say alla tua or alla Sua?
Match how you speak to the person. Alla tua! is for someone you call tu, such as a friend. Alla Sua! is for someone you address formally as Lei. For a group, say Alla vostra!
What does brindisi mean?
Un brindisi is a toast, and brindare is to toast. Facciamo un brindisi! means "Let's make a toast!", and Brindiamo a… means "Let's drink to…".