Greetings and politeness in Irish
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Irish words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Irish phrases in this lesson
- Dia duitDEE-ah gwitch
- Hello
- Maidin mhaithMAH-jin wah
- Good morning
- Tráthnóna maithTRAW-noh-nuh MAH
- Good evening
- Slánslawn
- Goodbye
- Feicfidh mé thúFEK-ee may hoo
- See you
- Le do thoilleh duh HULL
- Please
- Go raibh maith agatguh ROV mah AH-gut
- Thank you
- Tá fáilte romhattah FAWL-cha ROH-ut
- You're welcome
- Tá brón ormtaw BROHN OR-um
- Sorry
- Gabh mo leithscéalgov muh LEH-shkale
- Excuse me
- Tá áthas orm bualadh leattaw AW-hus orum BOO-luh laht
- Nice to meet you
Literally "God to you." The standard greeting in Irish. In very casual speech among younger speakers you'll also hear a simple "Haigh" instead, but Dia duit is always appropriate and always warmly received.
The "mh" in mhaith is pronounced like a "w," which surprises many learners. Use this up until about noon. It's a warm, unhurried greeting that locals appreciate hearing from visitors.
Literally "good evening". "Dia duit" works at any hour.
The most common farewell. You'll also hear "Slán go fóill" (slawn guh FOIL, meaning "goodbye for now") and "Slán leat" (slawn laht, said to the person leaving). Slán on its own works perfectly in any context.
Literally "I'll see you". Slán works for everyone; slán go fóill (slawn guh FOH-il) means bye for now.
Literally "with your will." The "th" in thoil is lenited and almost silent, so the word sounds like "hull." Tack it on to any request in a shop or restaurant and you'll come across as both polite and impressively prepared.
The everyday thank-you for shops, cafes and everyday interactions. Many Irish people also just say "thanks" in English without any awkwardness, but using the Irish version always raises a smile.
Fáilte on its own means "welcome" and appears on signs all over Ireland. The full phrase is the polite response to thanks. The "th" in romhat is silent, giving you the "ROH-ut" sound.
Literally "sorrow is on me", the real apology.
Literally "take my excuse". Used to get attention, or to apologize for a small bump.
Literally "there is joy on me to meet you." Áthas (joy/happiness) is a beautiful word you'll encounter often in Irish. A shorter version is simply "Tá áthas orm" with a handshake and a smile.