Breakdown of Cin cin! Alla salute!
alla
to the / at the (feminine singular)
la salute
the health
cin cin
cheers! (when toasting)
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Questions & Answers about Cin cin! Alla salute!
Where does the phrase cin cin come from?
Why does it say alla salute instead of using an Italian word for 'your'?
Alla is a combined word made from a (to) and la (the), so the phrase literally translates as 'to the health'. In Italian, it is very common to just use the definite article (the word for 'the') instead of a possessive word when the context makes it obvious whose health you mean.
Can I say just salute by itself when holding up my glass?
Do I need to change alla salute if I am toasting a group of people?
No, it stays exactly as alla salute. Because you are just saying 'to the health' as a general wish, you do not need to change the grammar whether you are looking at one person or twenty.