ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam
The English phrase "may she rest in peace" is expressed in Irish as ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.
This phrase is a traditional way to express a wish that a deceased woman finds eternal peace.
What does it mean word for word?
The literal translation of ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam is "on the right hand of God may her soul be".
Which one should you use?
You may also see the formal version Go raibh suaimhneas síoraí uirthi, which means "May she have eternal peace.".
Did you know?
- In traditional Irish culture, the phrasing for the deceased often emphasizes the destination of the soul rather than the state of the body.
- The word ar in this phrase is a linguistic oddity that combines the sounds and functions of three different Old Irish prepositions: 'for', 'on', and 'after'.
- In the phrase, the soul is imagined as being positioned specifically at 'the right hand' of God, a spatial concept used to denote divine favor and closeness.
Examples in context
- Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam, an bean iontach a bhí sí.May her soul be at the right hand of God, she was a wonderful woman.
Example conversation
Saoirse and Oisín are discussing the passing of a mutual female friend.
- SaoirseTá brón mór orm faoi an bean sin.I am very sad about that woman.
- OisínTáimid go léir trí thionchar, a Saoirse.We are all affected, Saoirse.
- SaoirseAr dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.May she rest in peace.
- OisínGo raibh athaní go hiontach uirthi.May she have a wonderful afterlife.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Dé, ar, ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam, dé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
