Log inSign up

Cin cin! Alla salute!

Cin cin! Alla salute!
"Cheers!" "To your health!"
From Lesson 55:Auguri! Wishes and celebrations·Italian

Questions & Answers about Cin cin! Alla salute!

Where does the phrase cin cin come from?
Cin cin is a fun and very common way to say 'cheers' in Italian. It was actually brought to Italy by merchants from Asia in the 19th century and comes from a Chinese phrase. Italians adopted it because the words sound exactly like glasses clinking together!
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?
Yes, just saying salute! on its own is another perfect and very common way to say 'cheers'. Interestingly, Italians also use this exact same word to say 'bless you' when someone sneezes.
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.

Learn Cin cin! Alla salute and more in Italian

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Italian →