conas atá tú?
How are you? In Irish is conas atá tú?
The phrase is a common greeting used to ask someone about their health or general well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, conas atá tú? translates to 'how is you?' The word conas means 'how', atá is a form of the verb 'to be' and tú means 'you'.
Which one should you use?
conas atá tú? is common in the south of Ireland, while cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? is the equivalent greeting used in the Connacht dialect.
Is it said differently in some regions?
conas atá tú? is the standard way to say 'how are you?' in the Munster dialect of Irish.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address more than one person or to use the formal polite 'you', change tú to sibh to get conas atá sibh?
When do people say it?
A common response to conas atá tú? is Tá mé go maith, which means 'I am well'.
Did you know?
- Depending on the context, the root of atá can relate to the concept of swelling.
- The word tú descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *túh₂, making it a very distant relative of the English word 'thou'.
- In Irish, using the plural sibh is not just for groups but is also the standard way to show formal politeness to a single person.
Example conversation
Two friends meet on the street.
- SiobhánDia duit, a Chonaire! Conas atá tú?Hello, Conor! How are you?
- ConorTá mé go maith, go raibh agat.I am well, thank you.
- SiobhánAn bhfuil gach rud go maith?Is everything going well?
- ConorTá, tá gach rud go hiontach.Yes, everything is wonderful.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries atá, conas, tú, CC BY-SA 4.0.
