mar sin leat
The English phrase 'bye' is expressed in Gaelic as mar sin leat.
mar sin leat means 'so long to you'.
Meaning: short for goodbye (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'so with you'.
Which one should you use?
mar sin leat is used for a single person, whereas mar sin leibh is used for multiple people or to show formal respect.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The expression Soraidh is prevalent in the Hebrides region.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes to mar sin leibh when addressing more than one person or using a formal/polite register.
Did you know?
- The word sin in mar sin leat is a cognate of the word shen used in Manx, a sister language spoken on the Isle of Man.
- The use of leibh to show formal respect is a linguistic remnant of a more rigid social structure in historical Gaelic society.
- The phrase mar sin leat functions more like a 'so long' than a final 'goodbye', implying a temporary state of separation.
Examples in context
- Mar sin leat, a charaid.Bye, friend.
- Mar sin leat, a mhic!Bye, son!
Example conversation
Two friends are parting ways after a walk.
- FinlayBha e na latha math, Eilidh.It was a good day, Eilidh.
- EilidhBha e glè math, a Finlay.It was very good, Finlay.
- FinlayMar sin leat!Bye!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries leat, mar, sin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
