saúde
/saˈu.d͡ʒi/
In Portuguese, "cheers" is most commonly said as saúde. Wiktionary also lists tim tim.
Meaning: toast when drinking (intj)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| saúde | /saˈu.d͡ʒi/ (Brazil) /sɐˈu.dɨ/ (Portugal) |
| tim tim | /ˈt͡ʃĩ ˈt͡ʃĩ/ (Brazil) |
The word is used to propose a toast when drinking. The most common and versatile way to say cheers is saúde.
What does it mean word for word?
The word saúde literally means "health".
Which one should you use?
Saúde focuses on the wish for good health, while tim tim is an onomatopoeic expression that mimics the sound of glasses clinking (clink clink).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal toast, you can use À nossa saúde, which means "To our health". In contrast, tim tim is a more informal and playful way to say cheers.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /saˈu.dʒi/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd of 3 syllables.
Did you know?
- Because saúde means 'health', it is also frequently used as a polite way to say 'bless you' after a sneeze.
- The word saúde shares the same Latin ancestor, salūtem, as the English word 'salute', which is why both languages use similar roots for concepts of well-being and respect.
- In some highly traditional Brazilian circles, a toast might include the phrase saúde e prosperidade, extending the wish from mere health to financial success.
Examples in context
- Saúde!Cheers!This example shows the use of saúde for a toast.Tatoeba #1139460 by vekiano, translation #487006 by human600
- "Você passa o tempo todo nesse computador. Não sai nunca para caminhar. Fica só bebendo café. Que é que o computador está dizendo?" "Saúde!""You spend all your time on that computer. You never go for a walk. You just drink coffee. What is the computer saying?" "Cheers!"This example shows a conversational use of saúde as a response.Tatoeba #11020623 by carlosalberto, translation #11020625 by carlosalberto
- Vamos brindar à nossa saúde!Let's toast to our health!
- Todos juntos, tim-tim!All together, cheers!
- Viva! Que esta noite seja inesquecível!Cheers! May this night be unforgettable!
Example conversation
Two friends are clinking glasses at a dinner party.
- MarianaVamos brindar ao nosso novo projeto.Let's toast to our new project.
- GabrielCom certeza. Saúde!Definitely. Cheers!
- MarianaSaúde, Gabriel!Cheers, Gabriel!
- GabrielObrigado, Mariana.Thank you, Mariana.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cheers” translations and entries saúde, tim tim, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries saúde, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
