في 15 ثانية
- Clinking glasses together to celebrate a specific person or event.
- Always maintain direct eye contact to avoid 7 years bad luck.
- Use 'auf' + Accusative to name the reason for the toast.
المعنى
To clink glasses with others before taking a drink to celebrate a person, an event, or a shared moment.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6At a birthday party
Lass uns auf deinen Geburtstag anstoßen!
Let's toast to your birthday!
In a business meeting after closing a deal
Sollen wir auf den Erfolg des Projekts anstoßen?
Shall we toast to the success of the project?
Texting a friend about a promotion
Ich komme vorbei und wir stoßen auf deinen neuen Job an! 🥂
I'm coming over and we'll toast to your new job!
خلفية ثقافية
Toasting in Germany is deeply rooted in social bonding and trust. The strict requirement for eye contact is a unique cultural quirk that foreigners often miss, leading to playful scolding from German friends. It transitioned from a medieval safety check to a modern symbol of friendship and 'Gemütlichkeit'.
The Eye Contact Rule
Always look the person in the eye when clinking. If you are in a group, you don't have to look at everyone at once, but look at the specific person whose glass you are hitting.
Don't Cross the Streams
Avoid 'crossing' arms with others while toasting in a large group. Try to reach directly to the person without blocking someone else's toast.
في 15 ثانية
- Clinking glasses together to celebrate a specific person or event.
- Always maintain direct eye contact to avoid 7 years bad luck.
- Use 'auf' + Accusative to name the reason for the toast.
What It Means
anstoßen is the physical act of clinking your glass against someone else's. In Germany, this is more than just a noise. It is a social contract. It signals the start of a celebration. It says, "We are here together, and this moment matters." Whether it is a cold beer or a glass of sparkling wine, the 'clink' is essential. It turns a simple sip into a shared experience.
How To Use It
Grammatically, anstoßen is a separable verb. This means the an flies to the end of the sentence. You will usually say Ich stoße... an. To say what you are celebrating, use the preposition auf followed by the accusative case. For example: Wir stoßen auf das Brautpaar an! (We toast to the bridal couple!). If you just want to suggest the action, you can say Wollen wir anstoßen? (Shall we toast?). It is simple, effective, and always welcome.
When To Use It
You use this whenever there is a reason to be happy. It is standard at birthdays, weddings, and New Year's Eve. However, Germans also use it for smaller wins. Did you finish a hard work week? Anstoßen. Did your friend pass a driving test? Anstoßen. It is common in restaurants, bars, and even at home during a nice dinner. It is the ultimate icebreaker for any social gathering.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid anstoßen during very somber or tragic moments. While some cultures toast to the deceased, in Germany, it is less common at a traditional funeral unless specifically invited to do so. Also, do not toast with an empty glass. It is considered awkward and a bit of a mood-killer. Some older Germans also believe toasting with water brings bad luck, though younger generations are more relaxed about this.
Cultural Background
There is one golden rule in Germany: Eye contact is mandatory. When your glasses clink, you must look the other person directly in the eye. If you don't, legend says you will suffer seven years of bad luck in the bedroom! This tradition likely stems from ancient times to prove you weren't trying to poison your drinking partner. Today, it is just a sign of respect and honesty. Don't be the person looking at the floor!
Common Variations
You will often hear Prost! or Zum Wohl! while people are anstoßen. Prost is the go-to for beer and casual settings. Zum Wohl is slightly more elegant, often used with wine or at formal dinners. You might also hear An die Gläser, fertig, los! as a humorous way to get everyone to pick up their drinks.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
The verb is neutral and can be used in almost any social setting. Remember the separable prefix 'an' and the preposition 'auf' for the object of the toast.
The Eye Contact Rule
Always look the person in the eye when clinking. If you are in a group, you don't have to look at everyone at once, but look at the specific person whose glass you are hitting.
Don't Cross the Streams
Avoid 'crossing' arms with others while toasting in a large group. Try to reach directly to the person without blocking someone else's toast.
Prost vs. Zum Wohl
Use 'Prost' for beer and 'Zum Wohl' (To your health) for wine. Using 'Prost' with a very expensive wine might raise some eyebrows in fancy circles!
أمثلة
6Lass uns auf deinen Geburtstag anstoßen!
Let's toast to your birthday!
A classic casual use with friends.
Sollen wir auf den Erfolg des Projekts anstoßen?
Shall we toast to the success of the project?
Professional yet celebratory.
Ich komme vorbei und wir stoßen auf deinen neuen Job an! 🥂
I'm coming over and we'll toast to your new job!
Shows the separable verb structure in a text.
Es ist erst 8 Uhr, aber wir können mit Kaffee anstoßen.
It's only 8 AM, but we can toast with coffee.
Using the verb for non-alcoholic drinks for fun.
Ich möchte auf uns und unsere Zukunft anstoßen.
I want to toast to us and our future.
Emotional and sincere use of the phrase.
Darf ich mit Ihnen auf das Brautpaar anstoßen?
May I toast with you to the bridal couple?
Formal phrasing using 'Sie'.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the correct preposition and article for 'the success' (der Erfolg).
Wir stoßen ___ ___ Erfolg an!
The verb 'anstoßen' uses 'auf' + Accusative to indicate what is being celebrated.
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the separable verb.
Ich ___ gerne mit dir ___.
In a simple present tense sentence, the prefix 'an-' moves to the end.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality of Anstoßen
Clinking beer bottles at a BBQ with 'Prost'.
Komm, stoß an!
A dinner party with friends or family.
Wir stoßen auf den Abend an.
A gala or wedding with champagne flutes.
Darf ich mit Ihnen anstoßen?
Common Toasting Scenarios
New Year's Eve
Auf das neue Jahr!
Promotion
Auf die Beförderung!
First Date
Schön, dass du da bist.
Friday Night
Endlich Wochenende!
بنك التمارين
2 تمارينWir stoßen ___ ___ Erfolg an!
The verb 'anstoßen' uses 'auf' + Accusative to indicate what is being celebrated.
Ich ___ gerne mit dir ___.
In a simple present tense sentence, the prefix 'an-' moves to the end.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
الأسئلة الشائعة
11 أسئلةIt means to clink glasses together as a toast. It comes from an (at) and stoßen (to bump).
Yes, it is! In a sentence like Ich stoße mit dir an, the an goes to the very end.
Yes, absolutely. It is a very strong cultural expectation in Germany to maintain eye contact during the 'clink'.
You can, but some superstitious people think it's bad luck. If you're the only one not drinking alcohol, it's better to toast with water than not at all!
anstoßen focuses on the physical clinking of glasses. zuprosten is more about the gesture of raising a glass toward someone from a distance.
You would say: Lasst uns auf den Gastgeber anstoßen!
In casual settings like a park or a pub, clinking beer bottles is perfectly fine and very common.
Your German friends will likely joke that you'll have seven years of bad luck in your love life. Just laugh and try again!
Yes, metaphorically it can mean to initiate or 'kick off' a process, like ein Projekt anstoßen (to kick off a project).
Yes, Zum Wohl is more sophisticated and literally means 'To your well-being'. It is preferred for wine or formal events.
In a small group, yes. In a very large group, it's okay to just raise your glass and say 'Prost' to the table.
عبارات ذات صلة
Prost! (Cheers!)
Zum Wohl! (To your health!)
Einen heben (To have a drink / lift one - slang)
Die Gläser heben (To raise the glasses)
Trinkspruch (A toast/speech)
