To toast: raise the glass and say the words / Brindar: levantar la copa y las palabras /5 minutes of Spanish + Podcast (English version)

 

Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening, depending on where you are in the world and when you decide to listen to us.

Thank you for joining us on this Spanish podcast, a language that is learned with time, perseverance, and also with moments like this.

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These days, many people are already thinking about parties, trips, and vacations. Others experience the end of the year in a different way, more calmly, more quietly, or more reflectively.

And you are here, listening to podcast 254, giving yourself this space to improve your Spanish, activate your mind, and continue connecting with Latin American culture.

It's the last podcast of the year. Happy 2026! What is today's topic, on the last day of 2025? Please don't tell me we're going to talk about one of your favorite topics: “New Year's resolutions” or “the year in review,” because we already talked about goals three weeks ago.

I see, Eduardo doesn't have his goals written down. How about you? Do you want to plan your Spanish-related goals for 2026? If so, write to us and we'll do it. But today, on the last day of the year, we're going to talk about something we all do at some point.

Eating, how delicious! Roast pork, roast beef, pasta, salad...

No, always thinking about eating! Let's talk about the verb brindar.

What does brindar mean?

Brindar means to raise a glass—with wine, water, beer, juice, or whatever you have—to express a wish, a celebration, or gratitude.

To toast (in English)

Por ejemplo: /for example:

• Brindamos por la salud. / We toast to health.
• Brindamos por el año nuevo. / We toast to the new year.

Brindamos por la amistad. / We toast to friendship

In many Latin American countries and in Spain, when we toast, we say something before drinking:

•    Cheers- salud

•    To us- Por nosotros

•    To being together-Por estar juntos

•    To Spanish- Por el español

•    Or in a fun way: “up, down, center and inside” Arriba, abajo al centro y adentro.

Toasting is not just about drinking. It is a social and emotional act. We don't just toast at parties.

We toast to:

• celebrate,

• close cycles or start new ones,

• give thanks,

• remember someone who is no longer with us.

That's why, even in sad moments, we sometimes toast.

Because toasting is sharing.

Is there any other use of the verb brindar?

Yes, we have an extra use for this verb, brindar. 

 Es brindar algo a alguien  /  to give something to someone

Es igual a ofrecer / to provide

Por ejemplo:

• Este podcast te brinda la oportunidad de practicar español. / This podcast gives you the opportunity to practice Spanish.
• La escuela brinda clases dinámicas y comunicativas. / The school offers dynamic and communicative classes.

En este caso, no hay copas o vasos, pero sí, hay algo que se brinda / In this caso there are not copes neither glasses, but something for toast.

In this case, there are no glasses or cups, but yes, there is something to toast to.

Thank you very much for giving us your time and listening, 

and for sharing all year long.

Today, let's all celebrate the same thing, and even though we're not in the same place,

let's raise our glasses—real or imaginary—and toast:

To Spanish,

To learning, (learning)

For the 53 podcasts of 2025

For the time you give yourself and us by being here, listening to us.

Because step by step we improve Spanish, let's go forward, calmly, focused, and with good Spanish.

Thank you for joining us this year and for so many years.

Cheers! 🥂

Here's to many more years!