How to Say Cheers in French: Short Toasts for Celebrations
Learn French phrases for short toasts at parties and dinners, including 'Santé !', 'À ta santé !', 'À la vôtre !' and simple replies.
By LiamCulture & nuance · Yapr Learn
At a French table, toasting is short and social: one or two words, glasses raised, eyes meeting. The most common toast is 'Santé !' (health). You can also say 'À ta santé !' to a friend or 'À la vôtre !' to a group or someone you address formally. This lesson teaches beginner-friendly phrases for proposing a quick toast and for responding when someone toasts you. It does not cover formal speeches; the focus is the short exchange that happens before everyone drinks.
By the end, you can…
- propose a short toast in French at a celebration.
- respond politely when someone toasts me in French.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Santé !
Cheers! (literally 'Health!')
sahn-TAY
The standard, neutral toast. Use it with anyone, anywhere, for any drink.
À ta santé !
To your health! / Cheers to you!
ah tah sahn-TAY
Use with one person you address as 'tu', such as a close friend or family member.
À votre santé !
To your health! / Cheers to you!
ah voh-truh sahn-TAY
Use with one person you address formally, or with a group. Safer if you are unsure.
À la vôtre !
To yours! / Here's to you!
ah lah VOHT-ruh
A warm toast to a group or to the person you are drinking with. Very common among adults.
Tchin-tchin !
Cheers! (clinking sound)
tchin-TCHIN
Casual and friendly. Common in France; in Quebec, 'santé' is also frequent.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Many short toasts start with 'À' plus a person or group: 'À ta santé !', 'À votre santé !', 'À la vôtre !'. The word 'à' here means 'to' in the sense of wishing something for someone. You can also toast a person or occasion: 'À Marie !' (To Marie!) or 'À nous !' (To us!). Keep it short: one phrase, glasses raised, then drink.
When to use it
Use 'Santé !' as your default. Choose 'À ta santé !' only with someone you already call 'tu'. Use 'À votre santé !' or 'À la vôtre !' with someone you call 'vous', with a group, or when unsure. If someone toasts you, you can simply repeat their toast or say 'Merci, à toi aussi !' (Thanks, to you too!) when addressing one friend.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Santé !
Cheers!sahn-TAYÀ ta santé !
To your health!ah tah sahn-TAYMerci ! À nous !
Thanks! To us!mehr-SEE ah NOOTchin-tchin !
Cheers!tchin-TCHINA little context goes a long way
In France, when you toast, it is polite to look the other person in the eyes and to take a sip after the toast. 'Tchin-tchin' is friendly and informal; 'Santé' works in almost any situation. In Quebec, 'santé' is very common, and you may also hear 'aux vôtres'. Avoid toasting with water in some French settings if others are drinking wine; it is a minor superstition, not a rule.
One thing to watch for
Using 'À ta santé !' with a waiter, a new colleague or someone you address as 'vous'.
Try this instead: Use 'À votre santé !' or simply 'Santé !' with anyone you address as 'vous'. For example, with a new colleague: 'À votre santé !' (ah voh-truh sahn-TAY).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are at a dinner with a close friend. Propose a short toast using 'tu'.
Show a sample answer
À ta santé !
This works because 'ta' matches the informal singular 'tu'. 'Santé !' is also correct and neutral.
2Someone says 'Santé !' to you. Give a short, friendly reply.
Show a sample answer
Merci, à toi aussi !
This thanks the person and returns the wish. With a group or a formal situation, 'Merci, à vous aussi !' is also correct.
3You want to toast a group of friends. Which phrase is safest?
Show a sample answer
À la vôtre !
'À la vôtre' addresses a group or a person formally. 'À votre santé !' is also correct; 'À ta santé !' would be wrong for a group.
Default to 'Santé !'. Use 'À ta santé !' only with 'tu', and 'À votre santé !' or 'À la vôtre !' with 'vous' or a group. Keep toasts short, look at the person, and take a sip.
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