Many of the Engish expressions that we use originate in Irish:
Have you ever watched an old western movie where the character exclaimed that something had been “blown to smithereens”? The Irish word meaning small fragments is smidirín. Ever heard someone say that “there was a whole slew of them”. That term slew comes from sluagh, meaning a large number. How about “there was food galore!” The word galore comes from go léor, meaning plenty. When you “boycott” something, you are referring to a 19th century English soldier, Captain Charles Boycott, whose Irish tenants shunned him for refusing to lower their rents.
Here are some priceless “Old Irish sayings.”
Más maith leat siocháin, cairdeas, agus moladh, éist, feic, agus fan balbh.
(If you wish for peace, friendship, and praise, listen, look, and stay mute.)
Bíonn grásta Dé idir an diallait agus an talamh.
(The grace of God is found between the saddle and the ground. )
Lá Nollaig go péacach is Lá Féile na Stiofáin ag iarraidh déirce.
(A showy Christmas Day and begging on the Feast of St. Stephen)
So, how do you say:
Hello
Dia Dhuit literally means God to you and pronounced . . . dee a gwit
How are you?
Conas tá tú? means How are you and is pronounced . . . kunuss taw too)
Goodbye
Slán means Goodbye and is pronounced . . . slawn
Good night
Óiche mhaith means Good night and is pronounced . . . eeh hah wa
Sea means Yes and is pronounced . . . sheh
Ní hea means No and is pronounced . . . nee hah
Le do thoil means Please and is pronounced . . . ledda hull
Go raibh maith agat means Thank You and is pronounced . . . gurrah maha gut
Oh, be a good sport and try it! Remember what the Irish say:
Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste, ná Béarla cliste.
(Broken Irish is better than clever English)
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