How to Say Cheers in Spanish
Learn how to say cheers in Spanish. '¡Salud!' is the toast — and it also means 'bless you.' Pronunciation guide, drinking toast customs, and related Spanish phrases.
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Quick answer
To say cheers in Spanish, say '¡Salud!' (sah-LOOD) — literally 'health,' as in 'to your health.' It's the standard toast when raising a glass. Interestingly, '¡Salud!' is also what Spanish speakers say when someone sneezes (the equivalent of 'bless you'). A fuller toast is 'Salud, amor y dinero' (health, love and money).
¡Salud!
/sah-LOOD/ — Spanish
How to Say Cheers in Spanish
When it’s time to raise a glass with Spanish speakers, one word does the job — and it carries a warm, universal wish for good health.
The Toast: ¡Salud!
¡Salud! — pronounced sah-LOOD
It literally means “health” — so when you toast, you’re wishing everyone good health, just like the old English “to your health!”
Copy the Phrase
The Spanish word for “cheers” is ¡Salud! (sah-LOOD).
Cheers AND Bless You
Here’s a charming double-duty fact: ¡Salud! is used in two situations:
- Toasting — raising a glass: “Cheers! / To your health!”
- After a sneeze — exactly like English “Bless you!”
Same word, both meanings — context (glass vs. sneeze) makes it clear.
Pronunciation
| Part | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sa | sah | Open ‘a’ |
| lud | LOOD | Stress here; soft final ‘d’ (almost dropped) |
In casual speech the final ‘d’ nearly disappears: “sah-LOO.”
Fuller Toasts
| Spanish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ¡Salud! | Cheers! / To health! |
| Salud, dinero y amor | Health, money and love |
| Salud, amor y dinero, y tiempo para disfrutarlos | Health, love and money, and time to enjoy them |
| ¡Chin chin! | (the clink sound) Cheers! |
| ¡Por nosotros! | To us! |
| ¡Por la amistad! | To friendship! |
The Playful Chant
A beloved toast chant, especially in Mexico and Latin America, moves the glass in directions before drinking:
Arriba, abajo, al centro y pa’ dentro! (Up, down, to the center, and inside!)
You raise the glass up, lower it down, bring it to the center to clink, then drink (“inside”).
Toasting Etiquette
- Say ¡Salud! while raising your glass
- Make eye contact when clinking (considered polite/important in many Spanish cultures)
- You can add ¡Por…! (here’s to…) + the occasion: ¡Por tu cumpleaños! (to your birthday!)
Related Useful Phrases
- Brindis — a toast (the noun): Hagamos un brindis (let’s make a toast)
- Brindar por — to toast to: Brindemos por la familia (let’s toast to family)
- ¡Que aproveche! — enjoy your meal (said about food, not drinks)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce Salud?
'Salud' is pronounced sah-LOOD. 'Sa' = sah, 'lud' = LOOD with the stress on the final syllable. The final 'd' is very soft — in casual Spanish it's almost dropped, sounding like 'sah-LOO.' The 'u' is a clean 'oo' sound (like 'food').
Does Salud mean cheers or bless you?
Both! '¡Salud!' literally means 'health.' As a toast, it's like saying 'to your health!' — the equivalent of 'cheers.' But Spanish speakers also say '¡Salud!' when someone sneezes, exactly like 'bless you' in English. Context makes it clear: glass in hand = cheers; after a sneeze = bless you.
What is the full Spanish toast?
A popular extended toast is 'Salud, amor y dinero, y el tiempo para disfrutarlos' — 'Health, love and money, and the time to enjoy them.' A shorter version is just 'Salud, dinero y amor' (health, money and love). Another playful one is 'Arriba, abajo, al centro y pa' dentro' (up, down, to the center, and inside!) — said while moving the glass before drinking.
What do you say when clinking glasses in Spanish?
'¡Salud!' is the main word, often said while making eye contact and clinking glasses. You might also hear 'Chin chin' (an onomatopoeia for the clink, borrowed and used playfully), or '¡Por...!' (here's to...) followed by what you're toasting, e.g. '¡Por nosotros!' (to us!), '¡Por la amistad!' (to friendship!).
Are there regional differences in Spanish toasts?
'¡Salud!' is universal across all Spanish-speaking countries. 'Chin chin' is common in Spain and parts of Latin America. The playful 'Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa' dentro' chant is especially popular in Mexico and much of Latin America. But anywhere from Spain to Argentina, raising your glass and saying '¡Salud!' will be perfectly understood.