ná bí buartha
In Irish, 'no worries' can be expressed as ná bí buartha.
The phrase ná bí buartha is used to mean 'don't worry'. Other variations include Ná lig dó ort, which means 'don't let it bother you' and Ná bac leis, which functions as an informal way to say 'no worries' or 'don't bother with it'.
Meaning: it does not bother me (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
ná bí buartha is composed of the negative imperative ná bí (do not be) and the adjective buartha (worried or anxious).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase ná bí buartha uses the imperative form of the verb bí (to be), which is used when giving advice or commands.
Did you know?
- The linguistic roots of 'to be' in Irish actually connect back to the Proto-Indo-European root for 'to stand', meaning that to exist is, quite literally, to stand.
- While ná bí buartha is a comforting phrase, the word buartha is also used in legal or formal contexts to describe 'trouble' or 'distress'.
- While 'no worries' in English is often a casual shrug, the Irish ná bí buartha can sound quite sincere and carries a slightly more personal, empathetic weight in conversation.
Example conversation
Saoirse apologizes to Conor for being late.
- SaoirseSárbháire, tá mé beagán aniar.Sorry, I am a little late.
- ConorNá bí buartha, Saoirse.No worries, Saoirse.
- SaoirseGo raibh maith agat, a Chonaire.Thank you, Conor.
- ConorNí neoprene aon rud é.It is no problem.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bí, ná, CC BY-SA 4.0.
