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The Italians are well known for their love of wine. It’s no coincidence that they have several meanings for cheers as you raise your glass and toast your friends and family.

In addition to wine, Italians love to raise a toast over a fine cocktail. In fact, there many famous Italian cocktails, such as the Negroni or Bellini.

Cin Cin (Pronoucned Chin Chin). This is actually a popular cheers in several countries and can be said world wide with people knowing what you mean. The history of this toast dates back all the way to China who would say “you’re welcome” – Ch’ing Ch’ing.

As time went on Cin Cin started to pick up with ships sailing throughout Europe and Asian. As they docked for the night the common cheers would be said as it was the only way to relate to the other seamen. Italians ran with this toast as they loved how it almost sounded like the clanging of classes after giving the cheers.

Salute – The more formal cheers and toasting of one another is by saying Salute. The meaning is much like other countries with “to your health”. Touching glasses isn’t needed in a formal setting, nor making eye contact like other European countries.

The term Salute also has several other meanings and is used if someone sneezes or is sick. For the most part it can be used anytime you want to wish someone good health or to get better.

Other Italian Drinking Toasts

In Italy, toasting is an important part of social gatherings. Toasts are a way to show respect and appreciation for the people gathered around the table. It is also a way of wishing good luck and prosperity on those present.

The most common Italian drinking toast is “Cin cin,” which translates literally from Italian as “clink clink.” This phrase dates back centuries, when glasses were made out of metal or pewter and would make a ringing sound when they touched each other during a toast.

Nowadays it has become more commonplace to say “Salute” (which means “health”) instead of “cin cin” when raising glasses in honor of someone else.

Other popular Italian drinking toasts include:

  • “Alla salute!” (“To our health!”)
  • “Cent’anni!” (“May you live 100 years!”)
  • “Buon appetito” (“Enjoy your meal”)
  • “Che la fortuna sia con te” (“May fortune be with you”)

Italians take their drinking rituals seriously; even if you don’t know much about them, it’s polite to raise your glass in agreement whenever someone makes a toast!