Anstoßen

Anstoßen is a German term with several related meanings. As a noun, das Anstoßen refers to the act of toasting, typically by clinking glasses during a celebration. As a verb, anstoßen (separable: stoßen) most commonly denotes the social act of toasting, for example in the phrase wir stoßen an or wir stoßen mit einem Glas an.

Etymology and sense relations: Anstoßen derives from stoßen, meaning to push or strike, with the prefix an-, indicating contact or approach. Over time, the word has specialized in social and ceremonial contexts as well as in more general senses of initiating or starting something.

Usage in social contexts: In German-speaking countries, toasting usually involves raising a glass and saying a short salutation such as Prost or Zum Wohl, followed by clinking glasses. Etiquette varies by region and setting, but common elements include maintaining eye contact, holding the glass at shoulder height, and drinking after the toast. If clinking is not feasible or desired, a light touch of the glasses or a nod may substitute.

Other meanings: Beyond social toasting, anstoßen can mean to initiate or launch something, such as ein Projekt anstoßen (to initiate a project) or eine Idee anstoßen (to trigger an idea). It can also describe a physical action of touching or bumping against something, though this sense is less common in everyday social language.

See also: Anstoß, das Prost, das Zum Wohl, stoßen.