Síocháin leat
In Irish, the phrase for peace be with you is Síocháin leat.
This phrase is used as a greeting or a farewell to wish someone peace.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of síocháin (peace) and leat (with you, singular).
Which one should you use?
Use Síocháin leat for one person and Síocháin libh or Síocháin le sibh for a group.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes depending on who you are wishing peace to: to say peace be with him, use Síocháin leis and to say peace be with her, use Síocháin léi.
Did you know?
- The word síth (the root of síocháin) can refer to 'peace' but also denotes the 'fairy mounds' of Irish mythology.
- The word síocháin might be a combination of two older words, síth meaning 'peace' and caín meaning 'gentle', though the spelling of the latter changed unexpectedly over time.
- Historically, síth referred to the 'peace' established by treaties between warring clans or kingdoms.
Examples in context
- Síocháin leat anocht.Peace be with you tonight.
- Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat agus síocháin leat.Good luck to you and peace be with you.
- Síocháin leat, a chara.Peace be with you, friend.
Example conversation
Oisín is leaving Saoirse's house after a visit.
- OisínGo raibh mille ól duit, a Saoirse.Thank you very much, Saoirse.
- SaoirseNí raibh aon rud leis, a Oisín.It was nothing, Oisín.
- OisínSíocháin leat.Peace be with you.
- SaoirseAgus síocháin leat féin.And peace be with you too.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries síocháin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
