In Italy, sharing a meal and a good drink is a deeply cherished ritual that brings people together. At any Italian table, you’ll quickly notice how much joy and connection flows during a shared toast. To truly embrace the moment and connect with your hosts, knowing a few Italian toasts can make all the difference.
From classic expressions that never go out of style to playful options that add a bit of humor, there’s a toast for every occasion (just wait for number 5—it’s a crowd-pleaser!). And trust me, knowing them will take you from tourist to new best friend in record time.
So grab a glass, warm up that wrist for a solid clink, and let’s explore how to say cheers in Italian!
Classic Italian toasts for every occasion
These timeless Italian toasts will have you raising your glass like a true local.
1. Salute! / Alla salute!
(Health / To health)
Salute is a classic and cheerful way to say “cheers” in Italian during a toast. It’s like wishing everyone at the table a lifetime of good health. Why salute (health)? Because in Italy, health is a lifestyle. Have you ever heard the golden rules? First, no swimming after lunch—ever. And second, don’t you dare step outside with wet hair or you’ll catch a colpo d’aria (a dreaded draft)!
You can use Salute! in any situation, whether you’re clinking crystal glasses at a fancy dinner or toasting with plastic cups with friends. For example, if you’re hosting a dinner party and you want to make a toast, you can raise your glass and say:
Grazie per essere venuti. Salute!
Thank you for coming. Cheers!
If you want to get a little more personal, you can even toast someone specifically by saying Alla tua salute! (To your health!). This adds a personal touch, especially when you’re toasting someone special.
Fun fact: we say salute also when someone sneezes. So, whether you’re toasting to health or offering a quick “bless you,” it’s all about sending those healthy vibes!
2. Cin cin!
(Cheers!)
Another popular way to say cheers in Italian is Cin Cin: two cute little words that sound just like the clink of glasses during a toast.
According to Italian etiquette, you’re technically not supposed to say “cin cin” when toasting because it isn’t considered very “elegant.” But honestly, try to find an Italian household where no one says it when raising their glass! Even the astemi (those who don’t drink alcohol) will join in on this cheerful cheer!
Compared to the classicSalute!, which works for both formal and informal occasions, Cin Cinis a bit more relaxed and informal, perfect for family dinners and casual get-togethers. For example:
Cin cin ragazzi! Che sia la prima di tante vittorie!
Cheers, guys! May this be the first of many victories!
Now, here’s a fun bit of trivia: Cin Cin has roots in ancient China! Back in the day, merchants traveling to China would hear the locals say “Qǐng, qǐng,” which means “please, please,” as an invitation to drink tea during business negotiations. The sound stuck with the merchants, who started using it to wish each other safe travels. Over time, it evolved into a toast, taking on a celebratory vibe.
3. Un brindisi!
(A toast!)
The word brindisi means “toast” and has become a popular alternative to say cheers in Italian. It comes from the German “bring dir’s”, meaning “I offer it to you.” Over time, this phrase transformed as it traveled through different cultures, eventually morphing into the Italian word brindisi.
You can shout Un brindisi! on its own or make it extra special by adding what you’re toasting to, like Un brindisi agli sposi! (A toast to the newlyweds!) or Un brindisi a un futuro pieno di successi! (A toast to a future full of success!).
4. Alla nostra! / Alla tua!
(To us! / To you!)
Other popular phrases when raising a glass in Italy are Alla nostra! (To us!) and Alla tua! (To you!), which are formed with the preposition alla (to the) and the possessive pronoun nostra (ours) or tua (yours).
Alla nostra! is ideal for group celebrations, the kind of cheer you give when you’re feeling victorious (even if the victory is just finishing a bottle of wine!). Alla tua!, on the other hand, is more personal, like saying “Here’s to you, my friend!”
You can even customise these toasts for special moments, like Alla nostra amicizia! (To our friendship!) or Alla tua nuova avventura! (To your new adventure!).
5. Alla faccia di chi ci vuole male
(Literally, “In the face of those who wish us ill”)
Alla faccia di chi ci vuole male is the ultimate toast for those glorious moments when you’re feeling on top of the world, no matter what obstacles you had to face.
Think of it as saying, “Here’s to us—winning, smiling, and living our best lives—despite anyone who might be rooting against us!” Perfect for informal gatherings with friends or family, this phrase adds a cheeky, playful vibe to any toast.
6. Prosit
(Cheers)
Coming from the Latin verb prodesse, meaning “may it bring good,” Prosit is like a wish for something good to come your way. It’s got that classy, I’m-super-cultured vibe, making it perfect for formal toasts or those moments when you want to add a touch of playful pomp to the celebration.
Back in the day, after mass, the churchgoers would say Prosit to the priest as a sort of good luck before he headed off to the sacristy – like saying, “Take care, Father!” This thoughtful gesture eventually found its way out of the church and into the everyday world, evolving from a religious custom to a festive toast.
Ways to say “cheers” in Italian for life’s special moments
When you’re attending a birthday, wedding, or special celebrations, you can go beyond the usual toasts with phrases like:
7. Auguri!
(Literally, “Wishes!”)
Auguri is the kind of Italian “cheers” you shout out loud at birthdays, holidays, or basically any excuse to celebrate. The origin of this word is pretty fascinating: in ancient Rome, the word auguri referred to those priests who interpreted the gods’ plans by observing the flight of birds. Yes, best wishes in Italian trace back to birdwatchers with divine job descriptions!
Over time, this historical meaning evolved into the modern sense of wishing for the health and good things to come. You can just say Auguri! (short, sweet, and to the point), or go a bit more enthusiastic with Tanti auguri!, which translates to “many wishes.”
Want to practice? Listen to the iconic song “Tanti Auguri” by Italy’s legendary singer and performer Raffaella Carrà!
And here’s a fun cultural twist: in Italian, Auguri! can also be used sarcastically to wish someone “good luck” when they’ve taken on something ambitious—or downright absurd. For example, if your perpetually lazy friend announces he’s planning to hike Mount Kilimanjaro next year, you might respond with Auguri! as in, “Good luck with that!”
8. Buon compleanno!
(Happy birthday!)
The phrase Buon compleanno is the Italian way to wish someone a happy birthday. It directly translates to “Good birthday,” with compleanno derived from two words: compiere, meaning “to complete” or “to accomplish,” and anno, meaning “year.” Put together, compleanno conveys the idea of completing another year of life, making it a fitting term for celebrating a birthday.
You’ll hear Buon compleanno! cheerfully shouted at the end of Italy’s beloved birthday song, Tanti auguri a te! (Best wishes to you!).
9. Cento di questi giorni!
(Literally, “A hundred of these days!”)
An alternative for birthday toasts in Italian is Cento di questi giorni! , which is a bit like saying “and many more,” but we make it a bit more specific. We’re not just wishing you some extra birthdays, we’re aiming for a full-blown century of birthdays just like this one. That’s right—100 more years of cake, candles, and toasts!
10. Congratulazioni!
(Congratulations!)
Congratulazioni! is the expression we use to raise our glasses and celebrate life’s big wins. Whether it’s acing that college degree, securing that promotion at work, or any significant achievement worth celebrating, saying Congratulazioni! is the perfect way to say “cheers” in Italian, similar to “Cheers to you!”
This expression carries a certain sense of admiration, making it ideal for moments when you want to toast to someone in a more official and formal way. For example, you might say Congratulazioni per il tuo nuovo lavoro! (Congratulations on your new job!) or Congratulazioni per il vostro matrimonio (Congratulations on your wedding!).
11. Viva gli sposi!
(Long live the bride and groom!)
Viva gli sposi! is the traditional way to say cheers in Italian during weddings, and if you’re ever invited to one, get ready to hear it a lot. Every time a glass is raised (and trust me, that’ll happen frequently), the room will ring with joyful shouts of Viva gli sposi! to toast to the couple’s happiness.
The word viva is the third-person singular present subjunctive form of vivere (to live). While it technically translates to “may someone live,” in this context, it is used as an exclamation to express good wishes and show your excitement and support. And it’s not just for weddings, you can use it to celebrate anything or anyone! Just pair it with the name of the person or thing you’re cheering on, like Viva Simone! (Hooray Simone!) or Viva l’Italia! (Long live Italy!).
12. Buon Natale / Buona Pasqua / Buon Anno
Beyond the generic Tanti Auguri!, Salute! and Cin Cin!, certain holidays call for their own special toasts that really get the party started. For example, at Christmas, you’ll raise your glass with a big Buon Natale! (Merry Christmas) and spread festive cheer. Then, when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, it’s all about the joyful Buon Anno! (Happy New Year). And let’s not forget Easter, a time for a toast with Buona Pasqua! (Happy Easter).
Valentina Nicastro is a travel writer in love with her home country, Italy. Having travelled widely around the globe, she realised there was more to explore closer to home and decided to put the passport aside for a while. When she is not immersed in documenting Italy, you’ll find her donning her communication consultant hat, weaving words as a content writer and bridging linguistic divides as a translator.
