Updated: July 23, 2022 by Mylene in French Expressions âȘ
Wondering how to say Cheers in French? You can say âSantĂ©â which translates to âto your healthâ. A more polite way is to say âĂ votre santĂ©!â, which is another common way to say cheers in French.
Now that you know that santĂ© is the cheers in French, letâs go a step further in the French tradition and explain everything surrounding this clinking-glass ceremony.
In this post, youâll learn to say cheers in French and its many alternatives:
- How to say cheers in French
- The ritual of making a toast in French
- The doâs and donâts when making a toast in French
- How to make a toast at a French wedding
- Lesson summary for cheers greeting in French
How to say Cheers in French
Food lovers clearly enjoy their stay in France. In addition, wine is served nearly with every meal. Champagne, invented by French, is also another great option. Visiting France for the fine cuisine, vineyard tours, and wine tasting definitely goes hand in hand.
While this looks awesome, you might be dreaming of getting a true French immersion experience. If so, this article in French is made for you.
Santé is Cheers in French
People from different cultures around the world have their own words to say cheers in their native languages. Here is one video that you might enjoy watching about 70 People from 70 Countries Say Cheers in Their Native Languages.
Besides diversity between languages and cultures, there are many ways to say cheers in the same language, and this also applies to the French language.
à votre santé
This is the most common way to say cheers is cheers in French. It means âto your healthâ and itâs the generic toast that you can use for plural and formal situations.
à ta santé
This expression is similar to âĂ votre santĂ©â. Itâs the other generic toast used for the singular informal version of saying cheers in French.
Ă la vĂŽtre
Does someone say to you âĂ votre SantĂ©â?If so, you can reply by just usingâĂ la vĂŽtreâ which means (to yours). You can also say âĂ la nĂŽtreâ (to ours).
In this context, the word health is assumed. Again, if youâre toasting a good friend one-on-one, youâd say, âĂ la tienneâ(to your) which refers to the health, singular informal.
The ritual of making a toast in French
Toasting in the French tradition has its own customs and rules. Beyond learning the French word for cheers, there are a number of things to keep in mind.There are âdos and donâtsâ when it comes to how you make a toast in French, and Iâll give you a list of examples.
1. The doâs: steps before your first sip
First, letâs learn the French toasting rules. Just before your first sip, you should:
- Raise your glass
- Make sure you include the whole group.
- Look in the eyes of the person you are toasting with
- Clink your glasses together
- You have to take the first sip before placing your glass on the table
2. The donâts: mistakes to avoid
Second, there are also mistakes that you should avoid before saying that you already nail how to make a toast in French. The infographic below summarizes the things that you should avoid:
- Never cross your glass with anyone elseâs. This means, never try to toast someone across the dinner table by putting your glass above or below theirs to reach someone else.
- Make sure not to sip unless everyone finished exchanging cheers. You should wait for everyone to cheer before drinking
- Never put your glass on the table during the âprocessâ
Thatâs it, now you can enjoy your meal and talk. If youâd like to learn more about the culture in France and in particular discoverhow to express gratitude in French, you can read our article on the best ways to say thank you in French.
Infographic: The dos and donât of making a toast in French
Making a toast at a French wedding
Letâs suppose that youâre invited to a wedding in France. Youâll want to use the proper expressions and steps when making a toast.
Porter un toast
Letâs imagine youâre at the wedding, and you have to âporter un toastâ.What does that mean? Porter un toast means that you raise glasses in celebration of someone or something before, with or without a brief speech.
If youâre at a formal occasion, such as a wedding, you might want to drink a toast to the newlyweds.For example, if you are invited to a wedding as the best man, youâll have to âporter un toastâ before the dinner begins. The toast we drink to the bride and groom at a wedding is called âle toast portĂ© aux mariĂ©sâ.
Levons nos verres
An alternative to âporter un toastâ is âlever nos verresâ (to raise our glasses).You might lift your wine glass and suggest, âlevons nos verres aux mariĂ©sâ: âLetâs raise our glasses to the newlywedsâ.
Lesson summary
Choosing the words to say cheers in French depends on many factors, such as the celebrated event or gathering and the people at the event. For instance, celebrating a special event, like a wedding or a promotion or New Yearâs Eve, are also occasions that can have their own distinct celebratory toasts.
Expressions to say cheers in French
If itâs not a formal occasion, you can use other expressions such as:
- à votre santé (to your health, plural/formal): is used commonly as a generic toast
- à ta santé (to your health, singular/informal): is used as a generic toast
- SantĂ©:Itâs very common to just use santĂ©
- Trinquons (cheers in French): means literally to clink your glasses together
- Tchin-tchin/ chin chin (cheers! Good health): very familiar
Letâs make a French toast
If you enjoyed reading this article, you might also like learning to read our brief guide to learning useful French expressions.
Youâll find regular blogs like how to say nice to meet you in French or how to say youâre welcome in French.
Be sure to check the private French lessons if youâd like to learn how to speak French like a native.
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I'm an enthusiast with a deep understanding of French language and culture. Having immersed myself in the intricacies of French expressions, I can provide comprehensive information on the concepts covered in the article you shared.
The article discusses various aspects of saying cheers in French, particularly focusing on the term "Santé." Here's a breakdown of the key concepts covered:
-
Santé - Cheers in French:
- "Santé" is the equivalent of saying "Cheers" in French, with the literal translation being "to your health."
-
Alternative Expressions:
- "à votre santé": The most common and generic way to say cheers in a formal or plural setting.
- "à ta santé": Similar to the above but used in a singular, informal context.
- "à la vÎtre" or "à la nÎtre": Responses to someone wishing you "à votre santé," meaning "to yours" or "to ours."
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Ritual of Making a Toast in French:
- Dos:
- Raise your glass.
- Ensure the whole group is included.
- Look into the eyes of the person you are toasting with.
- Clink glasses together.
- Take the first sip before placing the glass on the table.
- Don'ts:
- Never cross your glass with anyone else's.
- Wait for everyone to cheer before drinking.
- Avoid putting your glass on the table during the toasting process.
- Dos:
-
Making a Toast at a French Wedding:
- "Porter un toast": Raising glasses in celebration of someone or something, often accompanied by a brief speech.
- "Levons nos verres": An alternative expression meaning "to raise our glasses."
-
Lesson Summary and Additional Expressions:
- The choice of words for saying cheers in French depends on the occasion.
- Other expressions include "Trinquons" (literally clinking glasses together) and "Tchin-tchin" (a very familiar way of saying cheers).
If you have any specific questions or if there's more you'd like to explore about French expressions or culture, feel free to ask!