How to Say “Goodbye” in Irish

Ways to say it

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase slán agat literally means "safety at you". The literal translation of slán leat is "safe with you".

Which one should you use?

When addressing a single person, you can use either slán agat or slán leat. While both are used for one person, slán leat is more common in many dialects. To address a group of two or more people, you should use the plural forms slán agaibh or slán libh.

Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?

For more formal or traditional settings, you can use mo bheannacht leat, which means "my blessing with you". A more formal and religious-toned option is beannacht Dé leat, meaning "God's blessing with you".

How does it change in a sentence?

The form of the phrase changes based on the number of people you are speaking to. Use slán leat or slán agat for one person, but switch to the plural forms slán agaibh or slán libh when speaking to multiple people.