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Common Irish Greetings / Farewells (50K)


Many different greetings are used in Ireland depending on the occasion, and the part of Ireland where the Irish is spoken.

In the following examples the greeting is listed first, and then the appropriate reply is listed underneath. A literal translation is given on the right hand side. 




Dia duit				God to you.
Dia is Muire duit			God and Mary to you. (reply)

Go mbeannaí Dia duit			May God bless you.
Go mbeannaí Dia is Muire duit		May God and Mary bless you.

Bail ó Dhia ort				The blessing of God on you.
Bail ó Dhia is Mhuire duit		The blessing og God and Mary on you.

Cad é mar a tá tú ?			How are you? (Tír Chonaill)
Cén chaoi 'bhfuil tú ?			How are you? (Connacht)
Conas atá tú ?				How are you? (Momhan)

Tá mé go maith.				I'm doing well.

Slán leat				Good Bye (said to the person leaving)
Slán agat				Good Bye (said to the one remaining)


For the following greetings Gurab amhlaidh duit (The same to you) is a common reply;

Oíche mhaith (duit)			Good night
Codladh sámh (duit)			A pleasant sleep
Nollaig shona duit			Happy Christmas
Nollaig faoi shéan 
is faoi mhaise duit			A prosperous and pleasant Christmas
Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit		A prosperous new year





Terms Of Endearment (16K)


The following are the terms that are most commonly used when talking to your loved ones. They are even more common in letters. 


	a ghrá
	a rún
	a stór
	a thaisce
	a chroí
	a chuisle mo chroí	... my dear darling / love / treasure

	muirnín
	leannán
	céadsearc	... sweetheart

	a ghrá mo chroí	
			... love of my heart


Irish Curses (9K)


Curses in any language should be used with care. The same applies here. 


	Imeacht gan teacht ort.
		May you leave without returning.
	Titim gan éirí ort.
		May you fall without rising.
	Go n-ithe an cat thú is go n-ithe an diabhal an cat.
		May the cat eat you, and may the cat be eaten by the devil.


Seanfhocal (27K)


Some of the best and most culturally rich Irish is to be found in the old Irish proverbs. (Seanfhocal) 

Níl aon tintéan mar do thintéan féin.
There's no place like home.

Scileann fíon fírinne.
Lit. Wine lets out the truth.

Is fear rith maith ná drochsheasamh.
A good run is better than a bad stand.

Fillean meal ar an meallaire.
Evil returns to the evil doer.

Aithníonn cíaróg cíaróg eile.
Lit.  One beetle recognices another beetle

Ní hé lá na gaoithe lá na scolb.
A windy day is not the day to be fixing your thatch (roof).

Ná bac le mac an bhacaigh is ní bacfaidh mac an bhacaigh leat.
Don't bother with the beggars son and he won't bother with you.

Nuair atá an cat amuigh bíonn na luch ag damhsa.
When the cat is away, the mice will play. (Lit dance)

Meallan muilte Dé go mall ach meallan siad go mion.
God's mill may grind slowly, but it grinds finely.


Miscellaneous (25K)


This is a collection of the bits and pieces that did not fit in anywhere else. 


Maith thú			Well done / Way to go etc.

Sláinte 			Cheers.

Sláinte chugat			Good health to you.

Go raimh maith agat		Thanks.
Go dtaga do ríocht		May thy kingdom come.
Nár laga Dia do lámh		May God not weaken your hand.
Gura slán an scéalai		May the bearer of the news be safe.
Gurab amhlaidh duit 		The same to you.
Tá failte romhat		You are welcome.






Gabhaim pardún agat		I beg your pardon.
Gabh mo leithscéal		Pardon me (Lit. Accept my excuse).
Más é do thoil é		If you please.
Le do thoil			Please.
Saol fada chugat		Long life to you.
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