salute
/saˈlu.te/
The Italian phrase for cheers when drinking is salute.
salute is the standard way to say cheers when clinking glasses in Italy.
What does it mean word for word?
The word salute literally means health and is used as an exclamation to wish health to others.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of salute is /saˈlu.te/. It has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
When do people say it?
When saying salute during a toast, it is customary to make eye contact with the person you are clinking glasses with. Additionally, avoid crossing arms while toasting, as this is a custom in Italian culture to avoid bad luck.
Did you know?
- If someone sneezes, you say salute to them. In this context, it functions exactly like the English word 'bless' in 'bless you'.
- In many parts of Italy, if you toast with only water, it is considered a sign of bad luck or even an omen of a future breakup.
- The English word 'salute', used in a military context, shares the exact same Latin root as the Italian toast salute, meaning both involve an expression of respect or wholeness.
Examples in context
- Salute!Cheers!
- Un brindisi alla nostra salute!A toast to our health!
- Salute a tutti i presenti!Cheers to everyone present!
Example conversation
Francesco and Giulia are clinking wine glasses at a dinner party.
- FrancescoSalute, Giulia!Cheers, Giulia!
- GiuliaSalute a te, Francesco!Cheers to you, Francesco!
- FrancescoIl vino è ottimo.The wine is excellent.
- GiuliaSì, è delizioso.Yes, it is delicious.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry salute, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries salute, CC BY-SA 4.0.
