The standard way to say cheers in Spanish is ¡Salud! 🥂 (though locals usually drop the 'd' and say "¡Salú!"), along with the legendary party ritual: «Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa' dentro». 🥳 However, standing at a packed Spanish bar requires a bit more than just one word if you want to order like a pro, catch the waiter's eye, and dedicate a beautiful toast to your friends. 🙋♂️
Scroll down to learn essential nightlife phrases, get our regional cheat sheet, and test your skills with a quick quiz! 🧠
Is it salut or salud in Spanish?
How do you toast in Spanish? The famous rituals
Other handy Spanish phrases for a night out
This is a classic mix-up for pretty much everyone learning the language, so don't worry if you've been getting it wrong! Let’s clear it up once and for all:
The correct word is: salud (ending with a 'd') 🇪🇸. It literally translates to "health". 🤧
Why the confusion? If you have heard someone say salut (with a 't'), they were actually speaking French or Catalan (the language spoken in Catalonia) 🏙️.
Pronunciation hack: In Spain, people rarely pronounce a hard 'd' at the end of words. It usually sounds like a very soft "th" (like in "think"), or it drops off completely, sounding like salú. Give it a go!
To make it even clearer, here is a quick guide on how this changes depending on the region of Spain you find yourself in: 🌍👇
| Region / Language | What to say | How it sounds |
| Spain (Spanish) | ¡Salud! | Sah-looth / Sah-loo |
| Catalonia (Catalan) | ¡Salut! | Sah-loot |
| Galicia (Galician) | ¡Saúde! | Sah-oo-deh |
| Basque Country (Euskera) | ¡Topa! / ¡Osasunera! * | Toh-pah / Oh-sah-soo-nah |
* Guiri Tip: if you ever head north to San Sebastián or Bilbao (Basque Country) for some incredible pintxos, you'll definitely want to use the Basque words! «Topa» means "cheers/toast", while «Osasunera» literally means "health" (just like salud). They will absolutely love it if you order a local txakoli wine and shout «¡Topa!» with them! 🍷
How do you toast in Spanish? The famous rituals 🕺
Toasting in Spain is practically an Olympic sport. It’s loud, it’s fun, and there are a couple of unwritten rules you absolutely need to know if you want to pass as a local.
If you are out with a group of friends, someone will eventually start this chant before everyone takes a sip or downs a shot. You have to move your glass along with the words:
1. ¡Arriba! (Raise your glass up high) 👆
2. ¡Abajo! (Bring your glass down low) 👇
3. ¡Al centro! (Put your glasses together in the middle) 🤝
4. ¡Pa' dentro! (And down the hatch!) 🍹
Want to see how it’s actually done? 🍻 It’s much easier to catch the rhythm when you see it in real life. Check out the short video below to see a group of locals nailing the «Arriba, abajo...» chant. Turn the sound up, practice the arm movements, and you'll be doing it like a pro in no time:
Sometimes, just shouting ¡Salud! feels a bit too short. If you want to raise your glass and dedicate the toast to your friends (something Spaniards love to do when they get emotional after a couple of beers), you can start with «Por...» (For / To...) followed by one of these lovely, modern phrases:
Por seguir viéndonos – To keeping in touch / To continuing to see each other. ✨
Por seguir quedando muchos años más – For many years to come. 🔗
Por vernos más a menudo – To seeing each other more often. 👋
If you've travelled around Europe, you might have heard that you must look everyone strictly in the eye while toasting to avoid bad luck. Well, here is a secret: Spaniards aren't actually that strict about the eye contact rule! 🤫 While it’s polite, we are usually way too busy laughing and trying not to spill our drinks to worry about a staring contest. 🤣
However, there is one rule that is absolutely non-negotiable: No water allowed! ❌💧
According to local superstition, toasting with water brings seven years of bad luck. Spaniards take this so seriously that we even have a solution for the little ones!
During major celebrations like Nochevieja (New Year's Eve), Spanish families buy Champín 🍾—a super popular, sweet, strawberry-flavoured non-alcoholic sparkling drink, like champagne. This way, children and non-drinkers can join in the massive family toast at midnight at 100% capacity without bringing any bad luck to the table. Now that is commitment to the party! 🎉
Now that you know how to raise your glass properly and navigate the regional quirks, you’ll probably want to keep the conversation flowing! 🗣️✨ Standing at a packed Spanish bar 🍻 or sitting on a sunny terrace ☀️ can feel a bit chaotic if you only know how to say ¡Salud!
To help you order like an absolute pro, catch the waiter's eye 🙋♂️, and feel like part of the local crew, here are a few essential, casual phrases you’ll hear being thrown around every single night👇:
¿Qué vas a tomar? – What are you having to drink? 🥂
Otra ronda, por favor – Another round, please! 🔁
¿Nos pones unas bravas? – Can we get some patatas bravas? (Because you can't have drinks without tapas!) 🍟
🍽️ Hungry for more real-life Spanish?
If you are moving from the bar to the dining table, don't miss our complete guide on our blog Everyday conversations at the restaurant to learn how to order food, chat with the waiter and decode any menu like a pro! 📜☝🏻
Choose the correct answer ✅
Have you ever accidentally toasted with water in Spain and felt the wrath of your Spanish friends? 🚰
Or maybe you’ve tried to master the «Arriba, abajo...» chant and ended up spilling your drink? 😅
Let us know!