go n-éirí an bóthar leat
addressee singular
The Irish way to say "bon voyage" is go n-éirí an bóthar leat. Wiktionary also lists go n-éirí an bóthar libh.
Meaning: wish of good journey (intj)
Ways to say it
| Irish | Note |
|---|---|
| go n-éirí an bóthar leat | addressee singular |
| go n-éirí an bóthar libh |
This phrase is used to wish someone a good journey.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase go n-éirí an bóthar leat literally translates to 'may the road succeed with you'.
Which one should you use?
go n-éirí an bóthar leat is used when addressing a single person, whereas go n-éirí an bóthar libh is used when addressing a group of people or when using the formal/polite second-person plural.
How does it change in a sentence?
Use go n-éirí an bóthar libh when addressing more than one person or when using the plural/polite second-person form.
Did you know?
- In traditional Irish culture, the road is often seen as tied to destiny, making go n-éirí an bóthar leat a blessing for the person's fate as much as their travel.
- The word for 'road' in this phrase, bóthar, originally comes from the Proto-Celtic term for a 'cow path'.
- The use of the plural form go n-éirí an bóthar libh for a single person is a traditional way to signal extreme respect or formality.
Examples in context
- Turas maith! Bain sult as gach nóiméad.Have a good trip! Enjoy every moment.
- Go n-éirí an bóthar leat anocht.Safe travels to you tonight.
- Go n-éirí an bóthar leat go dtí an aerfort.May you have a good journey to the airport.
Example conversation
Saoirse is saying goodbye to Conor at the airport.
- SaoirseAn bhfuil tú rédy, a Chonaire?Are you ready, Conor?
- ConorTá mé, tá mo chuid féileán aici.I am, I have my passport here.
- SaoirseGo n-éirí an bóthar leat!Safe journey!
- ConorGo raibh mille gach!Thanks a million!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bon voyage” translations and entries go n-éirí an bóthar leat, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries an, bóthar, go, libh, CC BY-SA 4.0.
