proosten

Proosten is a Dutch verb meaning to toast, i.e., to raise a glass and wish someone well during a celebration or meal. The most common exclamation is Proost!, which translates as “Cheers!” In practice, people often say Proost before taking a drink and may add a short wish such as “op jullie gezondheid” (to your health) or “op het feest” (to the celebration). The act is frequently accompanied by a brief moment of clinking glasses, though this is not universal.

The gesture is widespread in the Netherlands and the Flemish-speaking part of Belgium, where toasting appears in family meals, birthdays, weddings, holidays, and other social gatherings. The expression is cognate with similar words in German and other West Germanic languages, reflecting shared ceremonial traditions across the region. The precise origin of the verb proosten is not clearly established, but it is clearly linked to the social practice of giving a toast.

Toasts can be informal, spoken spontaneously by participants, or formal, led by a host or master of ceremonies who proposes a toast such as “Laten we proosten op…” In everyday usage, speakers also employ the stand-alone interjection Proost as a brief, communal well-wishing before drinking.