slàinte
/ˈslaːnt͡ʃə/
slàinte is the Gaelic way to say "bless you" when someone sneezes.
This word is used as an interjection to be polite to someone who has just sneezed.
Meaning: said to somebody who has sneezed (intj)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈslaːntʃə/
Did you know?
- While you might use it for a sneeze, slàinte is most frequently heard in a pub setting as a way to say 'cheers' before drinking.
- When using slàinte as a toast, it is customary to make eye contact with the person you are toasting to avoid bad luck.
- The word slàinte shares a common root with the English word 'salubrious', which describes something that is healthy or good for you.
Example conversation
Callum and Isla are sitting in a cafe.
- Callum*Sneeze**Sneeze*
- IslaSlàinte, a Callum!Bless you, Callum!
- CallumTapadh leat, a Isla.Thank you, Isla.
- IslaTha thu gu mathYou are very well.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry slàinte, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries slàinte, CC BY-SA 4.0.
