Tchin-tchin!
casual, slang
The playful French toast among friends is Tchin-tchin! The standard one is Santé!, and À la tienne! is a warm way to toast one person.
Meaning: toast when raising a glass (interjection)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| Tchin-tchin! | casual, slang |
| Santé! | neutral |
| À la tienne! | friendly |
Say Tchin-tchin! while glasses touch. It is light and cheerful and not meant for a formal dinner.
Which one should you use?
Santé! means "health" and works everywhere. À la tienne! is for one friend and becomes À la vôtre! for someone you address politely or for a group.
When do people say it?
In France it is polite to look at the person while clinking glasses.
Did you know?
- The toast tchin-tchin is believed to have come into French from Chinese qǐng qǐng, meaning "please please".
Examples in context
- Tchin-tchin, les amis!Cheers, friends!
- Santé! À ta nouvelle maison!Cheers! To your new home!
- À la tienne, Julie!Cheers, Julie!
Example conversation
Julie, Max and Nina meet for an apéritif on a terrace in Lyon.
- MaxTchin-tchin!Cheers!
- JulieÀ la tienne, Max!Cheers, Max!
- NinaSanté tout le monde!Cheers everyone!
