Meaning
A toast used before drinking, wishing good health.
Cultural Background
The '7 years of bad luck' for breaking eye contact is taken surprisingly seriously, even by young people in a joking way. In Quebec, 'Santé' is often followed by 'Cheers' or 'Salut', reflecting the bilingual environment. In Belgium, especially with beer culture, the toast is very frequent and often accompanied by regional jokes. In countries like Senegal or Ivory Coast, a toast might be part of a longer blessing or libation ceremony.
The Eye Contact Rule
If you are toasting with a group, try to make eye contact with every single person you clink with. It shows you value them individually.
No Water Toasts
Some older French people believe toasting with water is bad luck. If you aren't drinking alcohol, it's safer to just raise your glass without clinking.
Meaning
A toast used before drinking, wishing good health.
The Eye Contact Rule
If you are toasting with a group, try to make eye contact with every single person you clink with. It shows you value them individually.
No Water Toasts
Some older French people believe toasting with water is bad luck. If you aren't drinking alcohol, it's safer to just raise your glass without clinking.
Wait for the Host
Always wait for the person who invited you or the oldest person at the table to raise their glass first.
Test Yourself
You are at a dinner with your French boss. Which toast is most appropriate?
Comment dites-vous 'Cheers' à votre patron ?
'À votre santé' is the respectful, formal version suitable for a boss.
Complete the informal toast to a single friend.
À la ________ !
'À la tienne' is the standard informal way to say 'To yours' (health).
Match the phrase to the situation.
1. Cul sec! 2. À tes souhaits! 3. Santé!
Cul sec is for chugging, À tes souhaits for sneezes, and Santé for toasting.
Fill in the missing word in this bar scene.
Marc: 'On boit ?' / Sophie: 'Oui ! ______ !' / Marc: 'Santé !'
The dialogue requires the toast to be initiated.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Ways to Toast in French
Formal
- • À votre santé
- • À la vôtre
Informal
- • À la tienne
- • Tchin-tchin
Party
- • Cul sec !
- • À nous !
Practice Bank
4 exercisesComment dites-vous 'Cheers' à votre patron ?
'À votre santé' is the respectful, formal version suitable for a boss.
À la ________ !
'À la tienne' is the standard informal way to say 'To yours' (health).
1. Cul sec! 2. À tes souhaits! 3. Santé!
Cul sec is for chugging, À tes souhaits for sneezes, and Santé for toasting.
Marc: 'On boit ?' / Sophie: 'Oui ! ______ !' / Marc: 'Santé !'
The dialogue requires the toast to be initiated.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsTechnically yes, but traditionally it's reserved for alcohol. Some consider water toasts bad luck.
No, it's just very informal. Use it with friends, but avoid it at a formal business dinner.
Don't worry too much, but if someone notices, they might jokingly warn you about the 'seven years of bad luck'. Just apologize and do it right the next time!
No, only before the very first sip of the first drink of the session.
'Santé' is the general word. 'À la tienne' means 'To yours' and is more personal/informal.
It must have the acute accent (é). Without it, the pronunciation and meaning change.
Yes, 'Santé !' or 'À votre santé !' works for any number of people.
It mimics the sound of glasses hitting each other and has historical roots in Chinese.
It means 'Dry bottom' and is a command to finish your drink in one go.
Yes, it is the universal toast across the Francophonie.
Related Phrases
Trinquer
similarTo clink glasses
À la tienne
specialized formTo yours (informal)
Cul sec
specialized formBottoms up
Porter un toast
builds onTo propose a toast
À tes souhaits
contrastTo your wishes
