Coucou !
Toasting in all countries is full of customs and superstitions. It’s a tradition that goes back to the Middle Ages and probably beyond. And still now, it’s always a ritual. How to make a toast in France, what to do, what to say?
This is what we’ll see in today’s episode of Comme une Française TV.
Et toi?
Have you ever made a toast in French?
With friends or in a formal event? What did you do?
Share your story (in French if you can!) in the comments below so we can all learn from your experience and laugh at your anecdotes.
Bonne semaine,
Géraldine
I worked for a French company in the United States many years ago and every month we would have a grande dinner. At the end of the dinner they would all toast but it was a peculiar toast! my French is not good but they would hold the glass to their forehead then their lips then their heart and then their genitals. Something like good thoughts good words good feelings and good sex. Do you know this toast?
Hi Steve,
Some people have their own traditions.
Unfortunately, I don’t know this one.
Géraldine
i find your classes very addictive.
I have learned so much from your videos.
You are fabulous. Is it not possible to always download a the list
of expressions etc? I did not see the green “download list”
on all lessons.
Merci . Diane
Bonjour Diane,
This is because I want you to take notes. It will help you remember them! 🙂
I remember sitting in a restaurant in the UK, next to a table of Indians who were celebrating their son having graduated from university. The father raised his glass & instead of using the toast “Bottoms up” he said “Up your bottoms” which has a totally different meaning! I’m sure he didn’t make the mistake intentionally!
😀
Hi Geraldine
Thank so much for the “toast” lesson. I’ll stop saying salud, like in Spanish.
My very considerate friends never corrected me. I will now sat Santé.
Merci!
Great, Raya! Santé !
Chin chin
Quand j’étais à Paris en 2011, notre guide parisien nous avons dit que les français disent “tchin tchin” avec les yeux dans les yeux quand on lève un verre. C’est au courant, à votre avis?
J’adore vos vidéos et votre personnalité. Merci pour les leçons !
Je viens de voir le comment de Denise et votre réponse. Je m’excuse. 🙂
Bonjour Amy, tout à fait !
Salut, Geraldine. C’est vrai qu’il ne faut pas apporter du vin a l’occasion de faire visite chez qq’un? J’ai entendu dire que c’est une insulte car bien sur les hotes savent quel vin a servir!
Bonjour Paulette,
Le vin qu’on offre n’est pas forcément bu lors du repas.
De nos jours, c’est tout à fait correct d’offrir du vin. 🙂
Our young friends always say…”a la tienne” to us when they toast…but never use the name, Etienne, with us. I learned “les yeux dans les yeux” last summer in France with friends…and was told by friends that if we didn’t do that….we wouldn’t have sex for 7 years! Très drôle, Non????
Ahhh, so THAT’S why I’ve not had sex for 7 years! And there was me thinking it was because I was ugly and introverted! ;0)
Hi Betsy,
It’s perfectly fine to say “A la tienne” on its own. 🙂
Hehe, never heard about “7 years without sex”!!
C’est vrai??? ça m’étonne! Tous les jeunes Français que j’ai fréquentés de temps en temps m’ ont bien avertie!
We had our flooring tiled a few years ago and Jean Paul would sometimes have a drink at the end of the day with us and would say ” votre sante”
Salut Geraldine. As ever, thank you for this informative video. I have never come across ‘cul sec’ before or ‘ a la tienne’ but I will remember them for another occasion. I have generally heard ‘sante’ and ‘a la votre’. Very useful. Thank you.
Salut!
Our French friends mostly say Chin-Chin when toasting.
Bonjour Denise,
Yes! These are great too. 🙂
Salut Géraldine!
Je restais avec des amis a Chambéry il y a un mois, et l’une des soirées, sur le point de trinquer, moi j’ai dit “A la tienne, Etienne”. L’étonnement s’est lu sur leur visage quand ils m’ont entendu, je te jure!
😀
Bonjour à tous.
Je confirme deux astuces très importantes dans cette vidéo! Quelques choristes (que j’ai récus aux EU) avaient organisé une soirée en mon honneur lors d’une visite en France. On a levé les verres, et immédiatement après, ils m’ont fait des reproches!! (amicalement, bien sûr) … “Janet, il faut que tu nous regardes, les yeux dans les yeux!!” et “Janet, tu as oublié Daniel!!!! Il faut trinquer avec chaque personne!” Ils m’on aussi dit que si vous vous regardez, les yeux dans les yeux, vous ‘trinquerez’ (clink the glass, si j’ai bien compris?) plus doucement par conséquence, et vous éviterez de casser les verres LOL. À mon retour aux Etats-Unis, j’ai adopté cette practique en famille et depuis 10 ans, cela fait partie de notre tradition 🙂
JB
Salut JB,
Oui, mes amis sont aussi exigeants que les tiens sur ces points-là. 🙂
Bonjour Geraldine! Thanks for this video. Since I also speak Spanish, the first time I made a toast in France I said “Salud” – what we say in Spanish, which sounds like Salut or hello! My friends laughed and nicely corrected me. Now I always say “Santé!” Thanks for making learning French so much fun! Au revoir!