Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بصحتك | bsahtek | to one person |
| بصحتكم | bsahtkom | to a group |
The phrase goes far beyond drinks. Moroccans say بصحتك when someone buys something new, gets a haircut, or finishes a meal, closer in spirit to 'to your health' than to a formal drinking toast.
What does it mean word for word?
بصحتك joins ب, 'with' or 'to', and صحتك, 'your health', so it literally means 'to your health'.
Which one should you use?
بصحتك said over food means something closer to 'enjoy', while said while raising a glass it works exactly like the English 'cheers'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase is informal and warm, used with friends and family in nearly any happy moment, not limited to toasts.
Is it said differently in some regions?
بصحتك is used across Morocco the same way, and alcohol itself is far less central to Moroccan social life than the phrase's constant everyday use for health and wellbeing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending changes with the listener: bsahtek to one person, bsahtkom to a group, following the regular Darija plural ending.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is said in one breath, 'bsah-TEK', with the stress on the final syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Assuming بصحتك is only for alcoholic toasts misses how often it is used in Morocco, including for tea, food, new clothes or even a fresh haircut.
When do people say it?
Saying بصحتك after someone gets a haircut or buys new clothes is a distinctly Moroccan custom, treating the small change as something worth a blessing.
Did you know?
- بصحتك is used in Morocco for almost anything new or finished, from a meal to a haircut, far more broadly than the English 'cheers'.
- The phrase shares its root with صحة, health, the same word behind الصحة used in Moroccan greetings about wellbeing.
Examples in context
- بصحتك! شربة زوينة.bsahtek! shrba zwina.Cheers! Nice drink.
- بصحتكم على الوليمة.bsahtkom ala l-walima.Cheers to all of you for the feast.
- قصيت شعرك؟ بصحتك.qassiti sh3rek? bsahtek.You got a haircut? Cheers to you.
Example conversation
Friends Amine and Walid share mint tea at a café.
- Amineبصحتك، هاد الأتاي زوين.bsahtek, had l-atay zwin.Cheers, this tea is nice.
- Walidبصحتك نتا كمان.bsahtek nta kaman.Cheers to you too.
- Amineشريتي سروال جديد؟shriti serwal jdid?Did you buy new pants?
- Walidآه، شريتهم البارح.ah, shrithom l-barh.Yes, I bought them yesterday.
