tá grá agam duit, a mhamaí
The Irish phrase for "I love you, mom" is tá grá agam duit, a mhamaí.
This phrase is used as an expression of affection when speaking directly to one's mother.
Which one should you use?
The phrase tá grá agam duit, a mhamaí translates to "I love you, mom," whereas the alternative Is tú mo ghrá, a Mhamaí means "You are my love, Mama."
Did you know?
- The phrase tá grá agam duit literally means 'I have love for you'. Unlike English, which uses a verb to express the action of loving, Irish treats love as something a person possesses.
- The h added to mhamaí is called lenition. In Irish, you must change the spelling and sound of a name or title when addressing someone directly.
- The word grá shares a distant ancestor with the Welsh word for 'love', showing how ancient Celtic languages were once closely entwined.
Examples in context
- Ó, tá grá agam duit, a mhamaí!Oh, I love you, mom!
Example conversation
Oisín is hugging his mother before going to school.
- SiobhánTá grá agam duit, a mhamaí.I love you, mom.
- OisínTá grá agam duit freis, a Oisíin.I love you too, Oisíin.
- SiobhánFeicfidh mé tú anocht.I will see you tonight.
- OisínSláinte agat, a mhac.Goodbye, my son.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, agam, duit, grá, CC BY-SA 4.0.
