Dia duit ar ais
The Irish phrase for "hello back" is Dia duit ar ais.
This phrase is used as a response to return a greeting to someone who has just said hello.
Did you know?
- The greeting Dia duit literally means 'God to you', making it a small blessing rather than just a casual 'hello'.
- In traditional Irish culture, the response to Dia duit is often Dia duit again, rather than adding 'back' as in English.
- The word Dia in this greeting shares a root with the Latin word deus and the Sanskrit word devá, both of which mean 'god'.
Example conversation
Aoife and Cathal meet on the street.
- AoifeDia duit, a Chathail!Hello, Cathal!
- CathalDia duit ar ais, a Aoife!Hello back, Aoife!
- AoifeConas atá tú?How are you?
- CathalTá mé go maith, go raibh agat.I am well, thank you.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dia, ar, dia, duit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
