salud
“salud” means “health” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
health
Also: wholesomeness
📝 In Action
La salud es lo más importante.
A1Health is the most important thing.
Hago ejercicio para cuidar mi salud.
A2I exercise to take care of my health.
El sistema de salud pública necesita más inversión.
B1The public health system needs more investment.
Bless you!, Cheers!
📝 In Action
A: ¡Achís! B: ¡Salud!
A1A: Achoo! B: Bless you!
Levantemos las copas. ¡Salud!
A1Let's raise our glasses. Cheers!
¡Salud! Por un año nuevo lleno de felicidad.
A2Cheers! To a new year full of happiness.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: salud
Question 1 of 1
You and your friends raise your glasses to celebrate a birthday. What do you say as you clink them together?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
Comes directly from the Latin word 'salus' (genitive 'salutis'), which meant 'health,' 'well-being,' and 'safety.' When you 'salute' someone in English, you're tapping into this same ancient root of wishing them well.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Spanish speakers say 'salud' when someone sneezes?
It's a very old tradition, similar to 'Bless you' in English. The idea is to wish the person good health ('salud') to prevent them from getting sick, as a sneeze was historically seen as a possible first sign of illness.
Is 'salud' related to 'saludar' (to greet)?
Yes, they come from the same Latin root! A greeting ('saludo') was originally a way of wishing someone good health. So when you say 'hola,' you're participating in a very old tradition of wishing people well.