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The Learning Irish/General Queries Thread.

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 941 ✭✭✭An gal gréine


    It's not akin to " whatever"!!
    'Go ndéana a mhaith duit', which you mentioned, is a very good way of saying it.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,812 Mod ✭✭✭✭riffmongous


    It's not akin to " whatever"!!
    'Go ndéana a mhaith duit', which you mentioned, is a very good way of saying it.
    I know (now), I just meant that the english translation of it sounds like the english way of saying 'i don't care' or 'whatever'


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,914 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    I know (now), I just meant that the english translation of it sounds like the english way of saying 'i don't care' or 'whatever'

    That's exactly why I was reluctant to give you a direct, literal (word-for-word) translation of the phrase. Idioms don't often transfer nicely from one language to another. In English, "It's your life" is an awful, passive-aggressive little phrase. In Irish, "Is é do bheatha" is a nice way to welcome somebody or to show your appreciation. As I said above, it's a bit more like "Cheers" or "Here's to you!"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,497 ✭✭✭ezra_pound


    Literally, "it's your life", but I'd interpret it as being similar to "cheers" or wishing someone good health.

    It's also used as 'welcome' as in welcome to Ireland etc.
    Óró sé do bheatha abhaile means welcome home.

    In Dracula, welcome to the Carpathian mountains is translated "sé do bheatha go dtí na sléibhte cairpe'.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,497 ✭✭✭ezra_pound


    Actually Dracula also says:
    “Is é do bheatha chun mo thíse. Tar isteach de do dheoin agus le do shaorthoil féin!”

    "Welcome to my house! Enter freely and of your own free will!"


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,812 Mod ✭✭✭✭riffmongous


    That's exactly why I was reluctant to give you a direct, literal (word-for-word) translation of the phrase. Idioms don't often transfer nicely from one language to another. In English, "It's your life" is an awful, passive-aggressive little phrase. In Irish, "Is é do bheatha" is a nice way to welcome somebody or to show your appreciation. As I said above, it's a bit more like "Cheers" or "Here's to you!"

    But the interesting thing about idioms, and also why I was curious to know what it literally translates to.. if I use that talking to other people who aren't familiar with it (which could be a lot of irish speakers in my case) isn't there a chance they will also translate it literally and think I am being passive aggressive? Although this is probably beyond the scope of this thread and I don't want to english it up much more ;)


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