salud

Salud is a Spanish word meaning “health.”

For English speakers, it’s most familiar meaning is for the toast Cheers!

The Spanish salud comes from Latin salus, variously meaning “health,” “wealth,” and “security.”

Outside its use meaning “health,” salud is used to say “Cheers!” (“To your health!”) when toasting drinks or instead of “Bless you!” when someone sneezes.

Use of salud in English dates back to at least the 1930s. And, more recently, it was the title of a 2006 song by Mexican singer Vincente Fernández in a 2011 episode of the hit TV drama Breaking Bad.

Salud is used throughout the Spanish-speaking world for all things related to health, toasting, and achoo-ing.

English speakers may use salud when enjoying some drinks while traveling to Spanish-countries—and may hear it if they sneeze there.

Construction has begun! @RaicesBrewing will be a gathering and welcoming place were we envision bringing communities together to heal, connect, celebrate who we are. It will be a place where we can savour good food, beer, culture and company! #PorNuevosEspacios ¡Salud! pic.twitter.com/bjzEOAt8RK

— Raices Brewing Co. (@RaicesBrewing) October 29, 2018

This content is not meant to be a formal definition of this term. Rather, it is an informal summary that seeks to provide supplemental information and context important to know or keep in mind about the term’s history, meaning, and usage.