Toasts and speeches: practice topics

A toast is a short speech people rarely prepare for. Here are 24 occasions to rehearse ahead: who you're addressing, a story, a wish. A minute is plenty.

🥂 24 topics · 60 seconds to answer · Past → present → future structure

Practice these topics

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How to answer: the Past → present → future structure

  1. Pasthow it used to be
  2. Presenthow it is now
  3. Futurewhat's next

All 24 topics

  1. A toast at your friend's weddingSpeak →
  2. Congratulate a coworker on a promotionSpeak →
  3. A toast at your parents' anniversarySpeak →
  4. Wish your team a happy new yearSpeak →
  5. A toast for your best friend's birthdaySpeak →
  6. A send-off for a retiring coworkerSpeak →
  7. Wish your mom a happy birthdaySpeak →
  8. A toast at a class reunionSpeak →
  9. Congratulate a friend on a new babySpeak →
  10. A toast at the office partySpeak →
  11. Congratulate a client on their company's anniversarySpeak →
  12. A housewarming speechSpeak →
  13. Thank a teacher who matteredSpeak →
  14. A toast to friendshipSpeak →
  15. Wish your boss a happy birthdaySpeak →
  16. A toast at your sister's engagementSpeak →
  17. Congratulate the winner of a contestSpeak →
  18. A speech at the opening of your businessSpeak →
  19. A toast to your parentsSpeak →
  20. Congratulate a friend on graduatingSpeak →
  21. A welcome speech for new hiresSpeak →
  22. A toast to those who aren't with usSpeak →
  23. Wish your grandma a happy 80thSpeak →
  24. A toast to the hostsSpeak →

Who this list is for

Toasts at weddings, anniversaries and office parties, and congratulations for colleagues. You’re often handed the mic without warning, and many people either refuse or read a greeting-card cliché. One minute of practice, and your toast will be personal and short.

A common mistake

A long toast made of generic wishes: health, happiness, love. Guests remember one story about the person and one wish. A good toast fits into 40–60 seconds.

Sample answer

Congratulate a coworker on a promotion

Marat, I remember your first day: you came with a notebook and wrote down everything each of us said. Six months later, we were the ones coming to you for advice. This promotion surprised no one — you’ve been working at this level for a long time. I hope your new team learns from you the way we did. To Marat!

Questions about this list

How long should a toast be?

40 to 90 seconds. After that guests get restless, even if the toast is good.

How do I make a toast personal?

One short story about the person, then a wish that grows out of it.

Can I prepare a toast in advance?

Yes, but keep the structure in mind, not the text.

How a session works

  1. Spin the wheelYou get a random topic from this list — like a question you didn't prepare for.
  2. Speak for a minuteLammy turns speech into text. The coach counts fillers, pauses and pace and checks your structure.
  3. Second takeGet one task and say it again. Your second take almost always scores higher.

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Toasts and speeches: practice topics

Practice these topics