How to Say “God Bless” in Irish

By Joanna Penelope • Updated October 3, 2026

Dia leat

The Irish phrase for 'God bless' is Dia leat.

Dia leat is used as a way to say goodbye to someone.

Did you know?

If you are speaking to someone you wish to show great respect to, you would use the plural form Dia leibh even if they are only one person.
The word Dia in Dia leat is a cognate of the Latin 'deus' and the Sanskrit 'devá'.
In traditional Irish culture, using a religious blessing as a secular goodbye is so common that it is used by people of all faith backgrounds.

Examples in context

Dia 's Muire duit
God and Mary be with you
Slán agus Dia leat.
Goodbye and god bless.

Example conversation

Conor is leaving Siobhán's house after a visit.

Conor

Slán, Siobhán.
Goodbye, Siobhán.
Siobhán

Slán agus Dia leat, Conor.
Goodbye and god bless, Conor.
Conor

Go raibh maith agat.
Thank you.
Siobhán

Dia leat.
God bless.

Sources

Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dia, dia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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About The Author

Joanna Penelope

Hello there, my name is Joanna! Ireland’s rich language and culture are my passions and I love sharing my knowledge about the Irish language. Whether it's decoding rare phrases or sharing everyday expressions, my writing is your bridge to Gaelic. Aside from my perpetual love for words and the Emerald Isle, I enjoy a cup of strong tea, reading evocative literature, and finding the perfect cookie recipe. Don't worry, I'm still trying to figure out how to say "chocolate chip" in Irish! Grá agus Gaeilge, as they say!

Joanna PenelopeHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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