tabhair aire duit féin
To say "take care" in Irish, you use tabhair aire duit féin. Wiktionary also lists tabhair aire daoibh féin.
Meaning: good-bye (intj)
Ways to say it
| Irish |
|---|
| tabhair aire duit féin |
| tabhair aire daoibh féin |
This phrase is used as an interjection meaning "good-bye".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tabhair aire duit féin literally translates to "give care to yourself".
Which one should you use?
tabhair aire duit féin is the singular form used when speaking to one person, whereas tabhair aire daoibh féin is the plural form used when speaking to a group of people.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you wish to say "take care of [something/someone]", use the preposition ar after aire (e.g., tabhair aire ar…).
Did you know?
- If you were to use the word aire in a different context, such as aire an rí, you would be referring to the 'guard' or 'attendant' of a king.
- The word féin in this phrase is a close relative of the English word 'self', sharing an ancient Indo-European root that emphasizes one's own identity.
- While tabhair aire duit féin sounds like a command to look after oneself, in Irish it functions more like a warm blessing or a gentle parting wish.
Examples in context
- Tabhair aire duit féin ar an mbealach.Take care on the road.
- Slán agat, tabhair aire duit féin.Goodbye, take care of yourself.
- Tabhair aire duit féin sa turas.Take care of yourself on the trip.
Example conversation
Conor and Siobhán are saying goodbye after a walk.
- ConorBhí an siúil go hiontach, Siobhán.The walk was wonderful, Siobhán.
- SiobhánSea, bhí an lá go hálainn.Yes, the day was beautiful.
- ConorSlán anois, tabhair aire duit féin.Bye now, take care of yourself.
- SiobhánSlán, a Chonaire!Bye, Conor!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “take care” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aire, daoibh, duit, féin, tabhair, CC BY-SA 4.0.
