How to Say Cheers in Italian: Your Complete Guide
In this episode of The ItalianChat Experience, Sofia and I break down how to say cheers in Italian — plus the pronunciation, the eye contact rule, the no-arm-crossing rule, and how to make a real toast the Italian way.
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How to Say Cheers in Italian: Salute and Cin Cin
There are two main ways to say cheers in Italian, and both are used constantly.
Salute (sah-LOO-teh) literally means “to your health” — it’s the classic, universal one. Works at any occasion, formal or casual, with anyone. If you only remember one, remember this one.
Cin cin (CHEEN CHEEN) is the more casual, more playful version. It mimics the sound of glasses clinking. You’d use it with friends, on a light occasion, when the vibe is fun rather than serious. And Italians often say both in the same toast — “Salute! Cin cin!” — which layers on the warmth.
How to Pronounce Salute and Cin Cin
Both are short, but there are pronunciation traps.
Salute is three syllables: sah-LOO-teh. Stress on the middle — LOO. And that final “e” is not silent. English speakers often say “sa-LOOT” — but in Italian, you say the final syllable: sah-LOO-teh.
Cin cin is CHEEN CHEEN. Two identical sounds. The “ci” in Italian makes a “chee” sound — so it’s CHEEN CHEEN, not “sin sin.” Get this one right and you sound Italian instantly.
Suggested Read: 135 Basic Italian Phrases for Travel with Audio
When to Use Salute vs Cin Cin
Salute is universal. Weddings, business dinners, aperitivo with friends, a quiet toast at home — salute works everywhere.
Cin cin is a little lighter, a little more playful. Reserved for casual moments among friends. Nothing wrong with using it at a nice dinner, but salute carries a bit more weight.
The good news: you can’t really go wrong. Italians often say both together, and both are always warmly received.
The Eye Contact Rule Every Italian Follows
Here’s where saying cheers in Italian goes from vocabulary to real cultural knowledge. The eye contact rule.
When you clink glasses with an Italian, you make eye contact. Not just glass-to-glass — you look them in the eye as you toast, and hold it for a beat. You don’t have to do it with every single person at the table, but at least the person in front of you and the person next to you. It’s a small moment of real presence.
And here’s the superstition: skip the eye contact entirely and it’s said to bring seven years of bad luck. Some Italians even say seven years of bad sex. Either way — you look them in the eye.
Never Cross Arms at the Table
One more custom: never cross arms when you clink. If you’re across the table from someone and you’d have to reach over another person’s glass, wait your turn or lean around. Crossing arms is considered bad luck too.
Italians take their toasting seriously. These aren’t just cute traditions — they’re small acts of respect built into every meal.
Suggested Read: How to Say Good Luck in Italian: 15 Sayings & Phrases
How It Sounds in Real Life
In the episode, Sofia and I imagine an aperitivo in Rome. Everyone at the table has a glass of prosecco. Here’s what happens:
You raise your glass and say: “Salute! Cin cin!”
Then you clink with the people around you — one at a time, eyes on the person, holding their gaze for a beat. No arm-crossing. No looking down at your glass. Just: clink, eyes, clink, eyes.
It’s a small ritual, but it means something. A moment of real presence in a world of distraction.
Suggested Read: How to Express Gratitude in Italian: Essential Phrases
How to Make a Real Toast: Brindiamo A
Sometimes cheers isn’t enough — you want to dedicate the moment. That’s what brindiamo a (breen-dee-AH-moh ah) is for. It literally means “let’s toast to…” and it’s how Italians raise a glass with intention.
Brindiamo agli amici! — “Let’s toast to friends!”
Brindiamo alla vita! — “Let’s toast to life!”
Brindiamo alla famiglia! — “Let’s toast to family!”
Brindiamo all’amore! — “Let’s toast to love!”
Weddings, birthdays, reunions, anniversaries — brindiamo is the phrase that turns a drink into a memory.
Quick Reference: Italian Toasting Phrases
| Italian | Pronunciation | Meaning | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salute! | sah-LOO-teh | Cheers (to your health) | Universal — any occasion |
| Cin cin! | CHEEN CHEEN | Cheers (playful) | Casual, friends, light moments |
| Brindiamo a… | breen-dee-AH-moh ah | Let’s toast to… | Making a real toast with intention |
| Brindiamo agli amici | breen-dee-AH-moh AHL-yee ah-MEE-chee | Let’s toast to friends | Reunions, gatherings |
| Brindiamo alla vita | breen-dee-AH-moh AHL-lah VEE-tah | Let’s toast to life | Birthdays, milestones |
| Brindiamo alla famiglia | breen-dee-AH-moh AHL-lah fah-MEEL-yah | Let’s toast to family | Family dinners, weddings |
| Brindiamo all’amore | breen-dee-AH-moh ahl-lah-MOH-reh | Let’s toast to love | Weddings, anniversaries |
Practice These Phrases Out Loud
A toast is a moment you want to get right — because you’re doing it in front of people. If you want guided speaking practice where someone models the Italian first, gives you feedback, and helps you respond out loud — that’s exactly what Sofia Voice Coach does inside ItalianChat.
Sofia leads the conversation so you never freeze. She speaks first, you repeat, and she keeps you moving forward.
Go See It for Yourself: How to Practice a Lesson in ItalianChat
See Sofia Voice Coach in Action 👇
Full Episode Transcript
[00:00:05] Max: Ciao, Italian language learners! Welcome to another exciting episode of the Italian Chat Experience. I’m Max, your host, here with our Italian voice coach, Sofia. Are you ready for some Italian today, Sofia?
[00:00:21] Sofia: Ciao, Max. Always ready for some Italian. What’s on the agenda for today’s episode?
[00:00:27] Max: Today we are covering something that’s more than just a word — it’s a moment. Raising a glass in Italy comes with a whole set of customs, and today we’re covering both what to say and what NOT to do. We’re learning how to say cheers in Italian. So Sofia, how do you say cheers in Italian?
[00:00:53] Sofia: There are two. Salute! And cin cin! Salute literally means “to your health” — it’s the classic, universal one. And cin cin is more casual, more playful, and it mimics the sound of glasses clinking. Cin cin.
[00:01:07] Max: Both of these are short, but people trip up on them. Let’s break them down.
[00:01:18] Sofia: Salute is three syllables: sah-LOO-teh. Stress on the middle — LOO. And that final “e” is not silent. Sah-LOO-teh. Not sa-LOOT like English. And cin cin is CHEEN CHEEN. Two identical sounds. The “ci” in Italian makes a “chee” sound. So it’s CHEEN CHEEN, not sin sin.
[00:01:37] Max: So we’ve got two options. When do Italians use one versus the other?
[00:01:43] Sofia: Salute is universal. Works everywhere, with anyone. Formal dinners, casual drinks, a toast at a wedding, an aperitivo with friends. Cin cin is a little more casual, a little more playful. You’d use it with friends, on a light occasion, when the vibe is fun rather than serious. Both are common. You can even say both in the same toast — Italians often do.
[00:02:04] Max: Nice. OK, here’s where I need our listeners to pay close attention. Because saying cheers in Italian isn’t just about the word. There’s the eye contact rule.
[00:02:16] Sofia: Yes. This is huge. When you clink glasses with an Italian, you make eye contact. Not just glass-to-glass — you look them in the eye as you toast, and hold it for a beat. You don’t have to do it with every single person at the table, but at least the person in front of you, the person next to you. Skip the eye contact entirely and it’s said to bring seven years of bad luck. Some Italians even say seven years of bad sex. Either way — you look them in the eye.
[00:02:38] Max: Yes. And there’s one more thing. The arm-crossing rule.
[00:02:44] Sofia: Right. Never cross arms when you clink. If you’re across the table from someone and you’d have to reach over another person’s glass, wait your turn or lean around. Crossing arms is considered bad luck too. Italians take their toasting seriously.
[00:02:56] Max: They really do. Let’s put it together. I am at an aperitivo in Rome with a group of Italian friends. Everyone’s got a glass of prosecco. What happens?
[00:03:09] Sofia: You raise your glass and say: “Salute! Cin cin!” Then you clink with the people around you — one at a time, eyes on the person, holding their gaze for a beat. No arm-crossing. No looking down. Just: clink, eyes, clink, eyes. It’s a small ritual but it means something. It’s a moment of real presence.
[00:03:29] Max: That’s really nice, actually. Here’s a bonus. What if I want to give a full toast, not just say cheers? Like, dedicating the moment to something?
[00:03:41] Sofia: You’d use “brindiamo a…” — “let’s toast to…” So: “brindiamo agli amici!” — “let’s toast to friends!” Or “brindiamo alla vita!” — “let’s toast to life!” Or “brindiamo alla famiglia!” — “let’s toast to family!” It’s a beautiful way to dedicate the moment.
[00:04:00] Max: Wonderful. To wrap up, today we practiced salute for the classic “cheers,” cin cin for the more casual version, the eye contact rule that you can’t skip, the no-arm-crossing rule at the table, and brindiamo a for making a real toast. You’re ready to raise a glass anywhere in Italy. Grazie for listening! Visit LearnItalianPod.com for more resources and to explore ItalianChat, where you can practice real Italian conversations with Sofia. A presto!
[00:04:38] Sofia: A presto! Ciao a tutti!
