topa
/topa/
The Basque word for "cheers" is topa.
topa is used as a toast when clinking glasses or making a toast during a drink.
Meaning: toast when drinking (intj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the cider-producing regions of the Basque Country, particularly in Gipuzkoa, the specific toast Txotx is used before taking a sip of cider.
How do you pronounce it?
/topa/
When do people say it?
In Basque cider-producing areas, you may hear the specific toast Txotx used right before sipping cider.
Did you know?
- The word topa literally means 'collision' or 'encounter'. When Basques say topa, they are referring to the physical act of the glasses meeting.
- While topa is the general term, the cider-specific Txotx is actually an onomatopoeia. It mimics the sound of the cider flowing from the barrel into the glass.
- Because topa is derived from the idea of a 'collision', using it requires making sure your glasses actually make contact, unlike some cultures where one might toast through the air.
Examples in context
- Topa bat egiten dugu.We will make a toast.
Example conversation
Nerea and Iker are having drinks at a bar.
- NereaTopa, Iker!Cheers, Iker!
- IkerTopa, Nerea!Cheers, Nerea!
- Nereaespero dut gauza ona gertatuko digun.I hope something good happens to us.
- IkerNi ere horrela pentsatzen dut.I think so too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cheers” translations and entries topa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
