Howya
Irish English, casual
In everyday Irish speech people say Howya, short for "how are you". What's the craic is another casual hello that asks what is going on. It is also called Dia duit.
Meaning: casual greeting (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Irish | Note |
|---|---|
| Howya | Irish English, casual |
| What's the craic | Irish English, casual |
| Dia duit | Irish language, standard |
You can say Howya to friends, neighbors and shop staff. A reply is often just Howya back, and nobody expects a long answer.
Which one should you use?
These are Irish English slang. The Irish language greeting is Dia duit, literally "God to you", and people answer Dia is Muire duit.
How do you pronounce it?
The word craic is pronounced like "crack" and is not related to the English word.
Did you know?
- The word craic comes from the Irish spelling of an English word and is now used well beyond Ireland for fun and good company.
Examples in context
- Howya, SeánHello, Seán
- What's the craic, ladsWhat is going on, guys
- Dia duit, a MháireHello, Máire
Example conversation
Seán meets his friend Niall outside a pub in Galway.
- SeánHowya, Niall.Hello, Niall.
- NiallHowya, Seán. What's the craic?Hello, Seán. What is going on?
- SeánNot much, sure we're grand.Not much, we are fine.
