sláinte mhaith
The Irish phrase for "good health" is sláinte mhaith.
sláinte mhaith is used to express the concept of good health or to offer a toast, functioning much like saying "Cheers!" in English.
What does it mean word for word?
The word sláinte means "health".
When do people say it?
The phrase is commonly used as a toast when drinking, serving as an equivalent to the English "Cheers!"
Did you know?
- The word sláinte is related to the word slán, which is used to say 'goodbye'. Both words share a root meaning of being 'safe' or 'whole'.
- In a toast, the adjective 'good' changes its spelling and sound to mhaith because of a grammatical rule called lenition, which adds an 'h' to certain words.
- In some Irish-speaking regions, you might hear people respond to a toast of sláinte mhaith with sláinte chugat, which means 'health to you'.
Examples in context
- Sláinte mhaith.Good health.
- Ní féidir linn sláinte mhaith a choinneáil.We cannot maintain good health.
Example conversation
Cian and Siobhán are talking about their grandmother.
- CianConas atá do sheanmhair?How is your grandmother?
- SiobhánTá sláinte mhaith aici anois.She is in good health now.
- CianSin scéal iontach, a Siobhán.That is great news, Siobhán.
- SiobhánGo raibh maith agat, a Chian.Thank you, Cian.
