Cheers in Spanish: Salud, Brindis + Toasting Phrases

To say “Cheers!” before a toast in Spanish, use ¡Salud! It literally refers to health and is the broad, dependable phrase when people raise their glasses. To propose a toast, say Brindemos por… (“Let’s toast to…”) or Quiero brindar por… (“I want to toast to…”), followed by the person, event, or hope you are celebrating.

The Real Academia Española entry for salud includes the interjection used when toasting. Its entry for brindar records raising a glass and expressing a good wish. These references support the toast meaning; they do not make the English email closing “cheers” or British “thanks” equivalent to salud.

Choose the phrase for the toast you want to make

Keep the content proportional to the event. ¡Salud! may be all a casual meal needs. A wedding, retirement, or formal award can call for a prepared message, but the host’s customs matter more than the length of your Spanish.

Pronounce salud and brindemos

Salud is approximately sah-LOOD, stressed on the final syllable. The final d is often softer than an English d and may be weakened in some accents. Start with a clear consonant and copy the local sound through listening; do not add an English vowel after it.

Brindemos is approximately breen-DEH-mohs. Stress the middle syllable. Brindar is approximately breen-DAHR, stressed at the end. Written cues cannot show the full range of Spanish r, d, or final s sounds, so use them only to remember the sequence.

Make a short toast in three moves

A clear toast does not require advanced rhetoric:

1. Get the group’s attention and state the purpose: Quiero brindar por Ana.
2. Add one specific reason or wish in a single sentence.
3. End with ¡Por Ana! or ¡Salud! so everyone knows when to raise a glass.

For example:

Quiero brindar por Ana, por su generosidad y por todos los proyectos que vienen. ¡Por Ana! ¡Salud!

I want to toast to Ana, to her generosity, and to all the projects ahead. To Ana! Cheers!

Practise the final cue clearly. If listeners are unsure whether the speech has ended, the social timing becomes harder than the language.

Toasts for birthdays, weddings, and ordinary meals

At a birthday:

Por Marta y por un año lleno de aventuras. ¡Salud!

To Marta and to a year full of adventures. Cheers!

Pair it with the guide to happy birthday in Spanish for feliz cumpleaños, felicidades, and birthday-specific wishes.

At a wedding:

Brindemos por los novios y por una vida llena de alegría.

Let’s toast to the newlyweds and to a life full of joy.

At an ordinary meal:

Por estar juntos. ¡Salud!

To being together. Cheers!

At a professional milestone:

Un brindis por el equipo entero y por el trabajo que hicimos juntos.

A toast to the whole team and to the work we did together.

Cheers does not translate the same way everywhere in English

When English “cheers” means “thanks,” say gracias, not salud. When it ends an informal email, choose a Spanish closing that fits the relationship, such as un saludo, saludos, or un abrazo. When someone sneezes, ¡salud! is also common, but that is a separate conversational event.

This multi-use word is easier to remember by cue: raised glasses, a sneeze, or a reference to health. The thank you in Spanish guide covers the gratitude task, and the Spanish goodbye guide covers spoken departures.

Toasting etiquette and practical boundaries

Participation, eye contact, touching glasses, order of speeches, alcohol, and religious expectations vary widely. A person may toast with water or a non-alcoholic drink, decline alcohol, or avoid a ritual entirely. The language salud does not require anyone to drink alcohol.

Do not pressure a person to explain why they are not drinking. At formal events, follow the host’s cue and wait until speeches finish. If you are asked to speak, confirm names and relationships before making jokes or personal claims.

Common mistakes and regional limits

Using salud as a translation of email “cheers.” In a sign-off, use a closing such as saludos instead.

Saying por without naming the object. ¡Por Ana!, por la amistad, and por el futuro make the dedication clear.

Confusing brindar por with brindar algo. In the toast meaning, por introduces what or whom you celebrate. The verb can have other meanings in other constructions.

Presenting one ritual as pan-Spanish. Event customs differ by country, family, and venue. A native local reviewer should verify etiquette advice for a specific audience.

The toast formula to keep

Use brindemos por + person or goal, add one sincere wish, then finish with ¡salud! For a spontaneous meal, skip directly to ¡salud! The clarity of the cue and appropriateness of the wish matter more than ornate language.

Disclosure: LinguaLive publishes commercial language-learning software and may benefit from Spanish phrase search traffic. This guide is not evidence that a toast template, app, or speaking exercise creates learning or social outcomes.

Frequently asked questions

How do you say cheers in Spanish before drinking?

Say ¡Salud! It is the widely understood short toast used when glasses are raised.

How do I say let’s make a toast in Spanish?

Say Brindemos por… and name the person, event, or hope: Brindemos por los novios.

Does salud also mean bless you?

Yes. ¡Salud! is also said after a sneeze in many Spanish-speaking communities. Context distinguishes that use from a toast.

Can I toast without alcohol?

Yes. The phrase expresses the wish; it does not require an alcoholic drink. Follow the event’s customs and respect each person’s choice.

Sources and editorial review

This guide was checked against its primary official or academic reference on 27 August 2026. Language usage can vary by region, relationship, and situation. Review the primary source.