Slán le hÉirinn
The phrase "goodbye ireland" in Irish is Slán le hÉirinn.
Slán le hÉirinn is a phrase used to say farewell specifically to the country of Ireland. The component Slán is a common and versatile way to say goodbye in Irish used in both formal and informal contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, Slán le hÉirinn means "safety/health with Ireland". The word Slán translates to "safety" or "health", and le means "with".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word hÉirinn is the dative case of Éire (Ireland), which is the form required after the preposition le.
Did you know?
- While slán is the standard farewell, Irish has several other ways to say goodbye that depend on whether the parting is temporary or permanent. Using the wrong one can accidentally imply a much more final departure than intended.
- The word slán is a cognate of the English word 'whole' through their shared Proto-Indo-European ancestor. This reveals that the Irish farewell is rooted in the idea of remaining physically intact.
- The word le originally meant 'side', meaning the phrase literally implies being 'at the side of' Ireland.
Examples in context
- Slán le hÉirinn arís.Goodbye Ireland, until next time.
Example conversation
Saoirse and Oisín are at the airport departing for a long trip.
- SaoirseTá an eitheal ag imeacht, a Oisín.The flight is leaving, Oisín.
- OisínTá mé brónach go bhfuil muid ag imeacht.I am sad that we are leaving.
- SaoirseSlán le hÉirinn, a stór.Goodbye Ireland, my dear.
- OisínSlán le hÉirinn, go deo.Goodbye Ireland, forever.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries le, slán, CC BY-SA 4.0.
