How to Say Cheers in French
Learn how to say cheers in French. 'Santé' (to your health) is the toast, with 'Tchin-tchin' as the playful clink. Pronunciation guide + French toasting etiquette.
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Quick answer
To say cheers in French, say 'Santé!' (sahn-TAY) — literally 'health,' short for 'à votre santé' (to your health). The playful, informal alternative is 'Tchin-tchin!' (chin-chin), imitating the clink of glasses. French toasting etiquette is taken seriously: make eye contact when clinking, or tradition says you'll have bad luck.
Santé
/sahn-TAY/ — French
How to Say Cheers in French
When it’s time to raise a glass in France, Santé is your word — accompanied by one piece of etiquette the French take quite seriously.
The Toast: Santé!
Santé! — pronounced sahn-TAY
It literally means “health,” short for à votre santé (“to your health”). When you toast, you wish good health to your companions.
Copy the Phrase
The French word for “cheers” is Santé! (sahn-TAY).
Pronunciation
| Part | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| San | sahn | Nasal ‘an’ (the ‘n’ is nasalized, not full) |
| té | TAY | Accent é → clear “ay”; stress here |
The nasal first syllable is the distinctly French sound.
Santé vs. Tchin-Tchin
| French | Pronunciation | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| Santé! | sahn-TAY | Standard, polite |
| À votre santé! | ah vot sahn-TAY | Formal, full |
| À la tienne! | ah lah tee-EN | Informal (“to yours!”) |
| Tchin-tchin! | chin-chin | Playful, casual (the clink) |
Tchin-tchin imitates the sound of glasses clinking. (Fun fact: it actually entered French from Chinese during colonial-era contact.)
The Eye-Contact Rule
French toasting has one famous, non-negotiable rule: make eye contact when you clink glasses.
Tradition holds that failing to lock eyes during the toast brings bad luck (jokingly said to be seven years of misfortune — or bad luck in the bedroom!). Whether superstition or not, maintaining eye contact while saying Santé is considered proper etiquette. So: clink, say Santé, and look them in the eye.
Toasting to Something Specific
Use À… (“to…”) + what you’re celebrating:
| French | Meaning |
|---|---|
| À l’amour! | To love! |
| À l’amitié! | To friendship! |
| À nous! | To us! |
| À ta réussite! | To your success! |
| À la vie! | To life! |
Formal vs. Informal Toasts
| French | Meaning | Register |
|---|---|---|
| À votre santé! | To your health! | Formal (vous) |
| À la vôtre! | To yours! | Formal |
| À ta santé! | To your health! | Informal (tu) |
| À la tienne! | To yours! | Informal |
Related Words
- Un toast — a toast: Portons un toast à… (let’s toast to…)
- Trinquer — to clink glasses / to toast
- Bon appétit! — enjoy your meal (for food, not a drink toast)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce Santé?
'Santé' is pronounced sahn-TAY. 'San' = sahn (a nasal 'an' sound — the 'n' is nasalized, not fully pronounced). 'té' = TAY (with the accent é making a clear 'ay' sound). The stress is on the final syllable: sahn-TAY. The nasal first syllable is the distinctly French part.
What does Santé literally mean?
'Santé' literally means 'health.' As a toast, it's short for 'À votre santé' (to your health, formal) or 'À ta santé' (to your health, informal). You're wishing good health to those you're drinking with — the same idea as the old English 'to your health!' It's the standard, polite French toast.
What is Tchin-tchin?
'Tchin-tchin' (pronounced 'chin-chin') is the playful, informal French version of 'cheers,' imitating the sound of glasses clinking together. It's casual and fun, used among friends. The expression actually came to French from Chinese (via colonial-era contact) and is now thoroughly French. Say it while actually clinking glasses.
Why do the French insist on eye contact when toasting?
French (and broader European) toasting tradition holds that you MUST make eye contact when clinking glasses and saying 'Santé' — failing to do so is said to bring bad luck, often jokingly described as seven years of bad luck (or bad luck in the bedroom!). Whether or not you believe it, locking eyes during the toast is considered proper etiquette and good manners.
What is the formal way to make a toast in French?
Formally: 'À votre santé!' (to your health — vous form) or 'À la vôtre!' (to yours!). Informally: 'À ta santé!' or 'À la tienne!' (to yours!). You can toast to specific things with 'À...': 'À l'amour!' (to love!), 'À l'amitié!' (to friendship!), 'À nous!' (to us!). 'Portons un toast à...' means 'let's toast to...'