cul sec
/ky sɛk/
The English phrase "bottoms up" can be translated into French as cul sec.
cul sec is used as an exclamation when encouraging someone to drink the entire contents of their glass immediately.
Meaning: Cheers! (intj)
Which one should you use?
While Santé is a general toast used for any occasion to mean "Cheers" or "To your health", cul sec specifically implies drinking the entire contents of the glass immediately.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
cul sec is an informal, colloquial expression used primarily among friends.
How do you pronounce it?
/ky sɛk/
Did you know?
- In a formal setting, using cul sec would be considered quite shocking or even vulgar, even among acquaintances, because it focuses directly on a body part.
- While cul sec sounds like a command to drink, the word sec literally translates to 'dry', creating an image of an empty, bone-dry glass after the drink is finished.
- The phrase cul sec is often associated with 'le défi', or a challenge, turning the act of drinking into a competitive game among peers.
Examples in context
- On s'amuse bien et on dit cul sec avant de vider le verre d'une traite.We are having fun and say bottoms up before emptying the glass in one go.
- Lorsque nous trinquons les uns avec les autres, nous disons tchin tchin et buvons d'un seul coup.When we clink glasses with each other, we say tchin tchin and drink in one gulp.
- Allez, cul sec !Come on, bottoms up!
- On fait cul sec pour fêter ça ?Shall we do bottoms up to celebrate this?
- Un dernier cul sec pour la route.One last bottoms up before we hit the road.
Example conversation
Two friends are finishing their last drinks at a bar.
- GabrielC'est la dernière tournée, Manon.It's the last round, Manon.
- ManonD'accord, on fait cul sec !Okay, bottoms up!
- GabrielSanté, vide ton verre !Cheers, empty your glass!
- ManonEt toi aussi, Gabriel !And you too, Gabriel!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bottoms up” translations and entries cul sec, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
