cá as duit?
The Irish phrase for "where are you from?" is cá as duit?
This phrase is used to ask a person about their nationality or the place where they originated.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, cá as duit? translates to "where from to you?"
Which one should you use?
cá as duit? is used when addressing one person in an informal context, whereas cá as sibh? is used when addressing multiple people or when you want to show formal respect.
When do people say it?
When answering this question, a common response is to start with As followed by the name of the place, such as As Baile Átha Cliath (From Dublin).
Did you know?
- The Irish language has two different words for as. While the one used in this phrase means 'from', another word spelled the same way means 'shoe' or 'slipper'.
- The word as in cá as duit? is a distant relative of the English prefix 'ex-' as in 'exit'. Both descend from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'out of'.
- Irish syntax in cá as duit? avoids using a verb like 'are', making the sentence a direct inquiry of origin without an action word.
Examples in context
- Cá as duit?Where are you from?
Example conversation
Siobhán and Cian meet for the first time at a party.
- SiobhánDia dhuit, is mise Siobhán. Cá as duit?Hello, I am Siobhán. Where are you from?
- CianDia dhuit, Siobhán. Is as Corcaigh mé.Hello, Siobhán. I am from Cork.
- SiobhánIs iontach é Corcaigh!Cork is wonderful!
- CianGo raibh maith agat!Thank you!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries as, duit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
