Ceachtanna: Greetings

On this page there is a range of common ways to say "hello" and "goodbye". There are also a number of other traditional Irish greetings associated with arriving and leaving.

Greetings

Irish	English	Literal English	Sounds				Notes
			Connacht Irish	Munster Irish	Standard Irish	Ulster Irish
Dia d(h)uit	Hello	God to you	Dia dhuit	Dia dhuit	Dia dhuit	Dia duit	Only ever said to one person. Even though the "h" is not strictly correct in the written form, it is always be pronounced, except in Ulster.
Dia d(h)aoibh	Hello	God to ye	Dia dhaoib(h)	Dia dhaoibh	Dia dhaoibh	Dia daoibh	Only said to more than one person as a rule, although in Munster it is sometimes said to one person on their own, so as to also greet their Guardian Angel. Even though the "h" is not strictly correct in the written form, it must always be pronounced, except in Ulster. In many parts of Conamara "daoibh" is pronounced "daoib".
Dia is Muire d(h)uit	Hello	God and Mary to you	Dia is Muire dhuit	Dia is Muire dhuit	Dia is Muire dhuit	Dia is Muire duit	Only ever said to one person. This is the reply to "Dia dhuit", although in Munster it can be used as the initial greeting, in which case, "Dia is Muire dhuit/dhaoibh, is Pádraig" is the reply. Even though the "h" is not strictly correct in the written form, it must always be pronounced, except in Ulster.
Dia is Muire d(h)aoibh	Hello	God and Mary to ye	Dia is Muire dhaoib(h)	Dia is Muire dhaoibh	Dia is Muire dhaoibh	Dia is Muire daoibh	Said to more than one person as a rule, although in Munster it is sometimes said to one person on their own, so as to also greet their Guardian Angel. This is the reply to "Dia dhuit", although in Munster it can be used as the initial greeting, in which case, "Dia is Muire dhuit/dhaoibh, is Pádraig" is the reply. Even though the "h" is not strictly correct in the written form, it must always be pronounced, except in Ulster. In many parts of Conamara "daoibh" is pronounced "daoib".
Dé bheathasa	Welcome	XXXXXX	Dialect Specific	Dé bheathasa	Dé bheathasa	Dialect Specific	Only ever said to one person. Use it to welcome them into your own territory - your home, office, village etc, but not as a general "hello", or in someone else's home. The only correct reply is "go mairir-se / maire sibh (i bhfad)", so remember not to use "Dia is Muire dhuit" or similar.
Dé bhur mbeatha/td>	Welcome	XXXXXX	Dialect Specific	Dé bhur mbeatha	Dé bhur mbeatha	Dialect Specific	Only ever said to more than one person. Use it to welcome them into your own territory - your home, office, village etc, but not as a general "hello", or in someone else's home. The only correct reply is "go mairir-se / maire sibh (i bhfad)", so remember not to use "Dia is Muire dhuit" or similar.
Go mairir-se (i bhfad)	No general equivalent	May you live (long)	Dialect Specific	Go marir-se (i bhfad)	Go marir-se (i bhfad)	Dialect Specific	Reply to "Dé bheatha" or "Dé bhur mbeatha". Only ever said to one person.
Go maire sibh (i bhfad)	No general equivalent	May ye live (long)	Dialect Specific	Go maire sibh (i bhfad)	Go maire sibh (i bhfad)	Dialect Specific	Reply to "Dé bheatha" or "Dé bhur mbeatha". Only ever said to more than one person.
Slán agat	Goodbye	Safe by you	Slán agat	Slán agat	Slán agat	Slán agat	Only ever said to one person. Said by the person(s) leaving to the person being left.
Slán agaibh	Goodbye	Safe by ye	Slán agaibh	Slán agaibh	Slán agaibh	Slán agaibh	Only ever said to more than one person. Said by the person(s) leaving to the people being left. (There is no tradition of using it for people's Guardian Angels.)
Slán leat	Goodbye	Safe with you	Slán leat	Slán leat	Slán leat	Slán leat	Only ever said to one person. Said by the person(s) being left to the person going away.
Slán libh	Goodbye	Safe with ye	Slán lib(h)	Slán libh	Slán libh	Slán libh	Only ever said to more than one person. Said by the person(s) being left to the people going away. (There is no tradition of using it for people's Guardian Angels.)
Go dtéir slán	Goodbye	May you go safe	Dialect Specific	Go dtéir slán	Go dtéir slán	Dialect Specific	Only ever said to one person. Said by the person(s) being left to the person going away. Directly equivalent to "go dté tú slán". Used in Munster only.
Go dté tú slán	Goodbye	May you go safe	Go dté tú slán	Go dté tú slán	Go dté tú slán	Go dté tú slán	Only ever said to one person. Said by the person(s) being left to the person going away. Directly equivalent to "go dtéir slán".
Go dté sibh slán	Goodbye	May ye go safe	Go dté sib(h) slán	Go dté sibh slán	Go dté sibh slán	Go dté sibh slán	Only ever said to more than one person. Said by the person(s) being left to the people going away.

Title of these pages... Introduction | Long Vowels | The Language | Greetings | Praise and Encouragement | Everyday Words

Sunday 18th November 2007