What those Irish expressions really mean this St.Patrick's Day
Posted on Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 04:27 AM
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Its that time of year again when everything Irish is in and everyone throws around Irish expressions.
But what do those expressions mean and where do they come from?
Here's a user's guide:
May the Road Rise to Meet You-- From the Gaelic, Go N-eiri an bothar leat, which means may success be with you.
Top of the Morning: Hollywood invention, never used in Ireland.
And the rest of the day to yourself --Also Hollywood.
Slainte: means Good health ---Slainte is the Gaelic word for health.
Slan meaning farewell Slan is the Gaelic word for safe so it means keep safe.
Erin go Bragh -- Means in Gaelic "Ireland forever."
A Hundred Thousand welcomes -- from the Gaelic Cead Mile Failte which means literally that.
Dia is Muire Dhuit: Means hello in Gaelic, literally means "God and Mary with you."
Dia is Mhuire Duit agus Padraig; How the person responds,"God and Mary and St. Patrick with you."
Pog Mo Thoin --Yes it means what you think it does, Gaelic for kiss my ...
And finally...
La Fheile Padraig brea dhibh go leir -- Have a great St. Pat's everyone
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Motleigh | Mar 21, 2011, 02:29 PM EDT
Great article.
I have read that before that Gaelic refers to the Scots version, although everyone I know calls Irish Gaelic just Gaelic. Maybe it is one of those words that over time has become to mean something additional.
Anyway this site is called Irish Central so I would think any reference for Gaelic on this site would be talking about the Irish version.
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mactala | Mar 17, 2011, 06:51 AM EDT
The English word "gaelic", without qualification, refers to the celtic language of "Scots gaelic". If you are speaking English, and are referencing the celtic language spoken in Ireland, the correct term is "Irish".
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