Tá mé go maith
To say "I am well" in Irish, use Tá mé go maith.
This phrase is a response used to say that you are in good health or feeling good.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'I am well'. In this construction, Tá means 'is/am', mé means 'I' and go maith means 'well/good'.
Which one should you use?
While Tá mé go maith is a general response to 'How are you?', the phrase Tá mé sláinteach specifically refers to physical health/being free from disease.
When do people say it?
If you want to express that things are going exceptionally well, you might use the idiom Tá mé ar mhuin na muice, which literally means "I am on the pig's back".
Did you know?
- While Tá mé go maith is common, Irish has a specific word sláinte for 'health' which is also used as the standard toast when drinking.
- The word go in this phrase is cognate with the Spanish word con meaning 'with'.
- In Irish, the word maith can be used as a standalone exclamation to mean 'well done' or 'good boy/girl'.
Examples in context
- Tá mé go maith.I am well.This sentence shows how to use Tá mé go maith to state you are well.Tatoeba #651184 by cl, translation #574624 by Zac2333
- Níl mé go dona, tá mé go maith.I am not bad, I am well.
Example conversation
Aoife and Cathal meet on the street.
- AoifeDia dhuit, a Chathail! Conas atá tú?Hello, Cathal! How are you?
- CathalDia dhuit, a Aoife. Tá mé go maith, go raibh maith agat.Hello, Aoife. I am well, thank you.
- AoifeAn bhfuil gach rud go maith?Is everything good?
- CathalTá, tá gach rud go hiontach.Yes, everything is wonderful.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries go, maith, mé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
