Cheers in Italian: 8 Happy Ways to Say it

Summary

Get ready to raise your glass like a true Italian! 🥂 This guide will teach you the perfect Italian phrases to toast any occasion, from casual gatherings to elegant weddings. Salute to sounding like a local!

  • Cin Cin! The go-to phrase for “cheers” in Italian, cin cin is your buddy at any Italian festa. It’s the sound of glasses clinking and the universal signal to start sipping!
  • Salute! Literally meaning “health,” salute is the classy way to wish well-being upon your drinking pals. Use it to impress at formal events or after someone sneezes—multitasking!
  • Alla Nostra! Feeling the group love? Say alla nostra to toast “to us!” It’s perfect for office parties or when you’re clinking glasses with your squad.
  • Wedding Wishes At Italian weddings, get sentimental with phrases like Congratulazioni agli sposi! or Per cent’anni to shower the couple with love and longevity.
  • Fare un Brindisi When you’re about to steal the spotlight with a toast, lead with fare un brindisi to grab everyone’s attention. It’s your cue to shine and share heartfelt words.

My thoughts

How to Say Cheers in Italian

Celebrations are an important part of every culture.

In English, we say ‘cheers’ to celebrate good health and wish further good health and happiness to your companions. We usually say it when we’re toasting.

In French we say ‘à votre santé !’ and in Japanese, we say ‘Kampai’.

But how do we say cheers in Italian?

The most popular way of saying cheers in Italian is ‘cin cin!‘ (pronounced as ‘chin chin’), but of course, it’s not the only one.

We can also say ‘salute!‘, which literally means “health,” and it makes sense since we wish for good health.

The complete version is “alla nostra salute“, which means “to our health”.

If you would like to make a toast, you would say, ”fare un brindisi“.

Cin Cin – Cheers

If you find yourself at an Italian party, you will definitely hear this phrase.

This one was put together based on a Chinese saying, and it used to mean ‘hello.’

In time though, its meaning changed, and now people use it with a different purpose.

It’s believed that this is happening because of the sound glasses make when clinked, so now, it means ‘cheers!’

Sometimes, ‘cin cin‘ is followed by ‘alla tua salute‘, meaning ‘as to your health.’

Keep in mind that ‘alla tua‘ without ‘salute‘ is perfectly acceptable, too, as the meaning is implied.

Allora, cin cin ragazzi, alla vostra (salute)!

Well, cheers, guys; here’s to your good health!

Alla Nostra –To us

We can also say ‘beviamo alla nostra!‘ in formal and informal situations. It literally means ‘Let’s drink to us!’.

We can use it in common situations such as office parties, graduations, or to celebrate after sporting events!

Alternatively, you can use the shortened version ‘alla nostra!‘, meaning ‘here’s to us!’.

If you want to say ‘here’s to you!’ you can say ‘alla vostra!‘ or ‘alla tua!‘ if you’re talking to a single person.

What does salute mean in Italian?

Salute‘ in Italian is a formal way of saying cheers in Italian and is often confused with ‘saluti’, which means ‘greetings.’ You can use ‘salute’ in almost any formal environment.

Just so you know, you can also say ‘salute’ when someone sneezes, wishing them good health, or after someone did something impressive for themselves, like walking 10 miles in an hour.

Salute literally means “health”.

Here’re some examples:

Franco non è in buone condizioni di salute.

Franco is not healthy/not in good condition.

Sei il ritratto della salute!

You are the portrait of health!

Ti trovo in salute.

I find you in good health.

Sono stata male, ma adesso sono in buona salute.

I have been sick, but now I am well/in good health.

Vostra altezza goda di buona salute e pace.

May Your Highness enjoy good health and peace.

Cheers in Italian at weddings

As Italians like to party, you may find yourself at an Italian wedding, and of course, you may want to know what to say.

Free Guide
How to Learn Languages Fast

Here are some common phrases you can use:

Congratulazioni!

Congratulations!

You can say congratulazioni directly to the newlyweds.

Congratulazioni agli sposi!

Congratulations to the newlyweds!

This phrase can be used before or after a toast, and it’s supposed to congratulate the new couple.

Vi auguro il meglio.

I wish you the very best.

Possa il vostro amore vivere per sempre.

May your love life forever.

Possa la vostra gioia durare cento anni.

May your joy last a hundred years.

This is one of the most beautiful ways to say cheers in Italian to the new bride and groom. It’s pretty formal, though.

Per cent’anni.

For a hundred years.

At the beginning of a toast, the best man usually says this phrase, and the guests repeat it after him.

Viva l’amore!

Long live love!

This one is not especially used at weddings, but you can use it anytime you feel like expressing the power of love.

Facciamo un brindisi!

Let’s make a toast!

Propongo un brindisi!

I propose a toast!

Vorrei fare un brindisi!

I would like to make a toast!

If you are preparing to make a toast, you can use any of the three phrases above to draw everyone’s attention.

They can be used in both formal and informal situations, and it’s always great to make a toast.

More cool Italian expressions

Celebrations are always incredible, and Italian people know them better than anyone.

Now that you know how to say cheers in Italian, it’s time for a party!

Also, learn these Italian expressions:

How do you toast in Italian?

If you'd like to make a toast, you can either say "cin cin" or "salute". "Cin cin" recalls the sound the glasses make when clinked, while "salute" literally means health.

What does salute means in Italian?

Salute means health and it is used when Italians make a toast. You can also say salute when someone sneezes, to wish someone good health, or if someone has done something impressive.

What do Italian people say when raising a glass?

The most popular ways of making a toast in Italian are "cin cin", "salute", "alla nostra" (or the extended version "alla nostra salute").

Italian word of the day
bottiglie
Example
Colleziono bottiglie. Non sai proprio cosa fare, eh?
I collect bottles. You just don’t know what to do, huh?
Follow me to fluency​

Create a free lifetime account to get access to all the free courses and other resources.

2 Responses

  1. Hi, it is not possible to make sounds for all phrases?

    Franco non è in buone condizioni di salute.
    Franco is not healthy/not in good condition.
    Sei il ritratto della salute!
    You are the portrait of health!
    Ti trovo in salute.
    I find you in good health.
    Sono stata male, ma adesso sono in buona salute.
    I have been sick, but now I am well/in good health.

Leave a Reply

Take a free lesson today!

Create a free lifetime account to get access to all the free lessons and other resources.

I’ll also deliver my free resources my best offers to your mailbox (opt out at any time).

Different Ways to Say no in Italian Even in Italian, it can be difficult to say no at times, after learning how to say yes, you can learn how to say...
Question words Italian is a very expressive language. This is why we love to use body language and gestures to communicate. Some people say Italians speak as if we were...
Get ready for your next trip to Italy by learning how to say “sea” in Italian! Impress the locals with our simple and practical guide. Buon viaggio! Italy is well-known...
How to say please In Italian? Choose from 20+ formal and informal ways to say please, thank you and you're welcome for every occasion. Read more, per favore!
Try my courses for free​
Stefano

Log in

Reset password or get in touch.

Not a member yet? Join today!

How long to fluency?

Find out how long it will take you to master Italian!
Get on the right track in 3 minutes.

dolce vita logo

We're already friends!

Coming from Luca and Marina?
Here's a special deal for you!
Just tell me where I should send the coupon.

50% OFF
all language resources

We're already friends!

Coming from All Language Resources?
Here's a special deal for you!
Just tell me where I should send the coupon.

50% OFF
GRAB A COUPON NOW, REDEEM IT LATER
50% OFF

To receive free resources once a week together with my best offers, just tell me where to send everything. Opt out at any time.

Create a free lifetime account to get access to all the free lesson and other resources.