Saúde
sah-OO-jee
How to say itPart of: Celebrations
“Cheers; bless you (health).”
Saúde means health, and it is what Brazilians say raising a glass (cheers!) and after someone sneezes (bless you). At a toast it comes with tim-tim, the clink, and um brinde a… (a toast to…). Not to be confused with saudade, the longing: one letter and a world apart.
Looking for happy birthday, cheers and good luck? Celebrations in Portuguese: the guide
EverydayAll Brazilalso: tim-tim, tin-tinReply: Saúde!
How Brazilians use it
“Saúde! Ao aniversariante!”
“Cheers! To the birthday boy!”
A toast.
“Tim-tim! Saúde, gente!”
“Clink! Cheers, everyone!”
As the glasses touch.
“— Atchim! — Saúde!”
““Achoo!” “Bless you!””
After a sneeze.
“Um brinde aos noivos!”
“A toast to the newlyweds!”
Standing up with a glass.
In a real book
“— Vamos, uma saúde, seu diplomático... faça uma saúde daquelas...”How to reply
- Saúde!The same back, glasses raised.
- Obrigado / obrigada.After a sneeze.
Similar expressions
Brazil vs Portugal
The same toast and the same bless-you in Portugal; the final de is said “d”, sah-OO-d, rather than the Brazilian “jee”.
Common mistakes
- Don’t say salud: Spanish. The Portuguese is saúde, with the stress on the ú.
- Don’t confuse saúde (health, cheers) with saudade (longing).
- Don’t say it like “sowd”: sah-OO-jee, three syllables, the final de like “jee”.
Frequently asked questions
What does saúde mean in Portuguese?
Health. Raised with a glass it is cheers; said after a sneeze it is bless you. The toast often comes with tim-tim, the clink.
How do you pronounce saúde?
sah-OO-jee. The ú carries the stress, and in Brazil the final de sounds like “jee”; in Portugal, like “d”.
What is the difference between saúde and saudade?
Saúde is health, cheers, bless you. Saudade is the famous longing for someone or something missed. One letter apart, nothing in common.
How do you say cheers in Portuguese?
Saúde! Also tim-tim as the glasses touch, and um brinde a… to propose a toast. Brazilians look you in the eye as they clink.