Dé do bheatha

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Irish

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle Irish dia do betha or dé do betha, from Old Irish rot·bia do bethu (you shall have your life) or rot·bé do bethu (may you have your life). Compare is é do bheatha and Scottish Gaelic 's e do bheatha (don’t mention it, you are welcome).[1]

Phrase

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do bheatha

  1. welcome, hail (used as a greeting, addressed to one person)

Usage notes

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  • Often interpreted as meaning God is your life (hence commonly capitalized).

Synonyms

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References

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  1. ^ Brian Ó Cuív (1981) “The etymology of Dia do bheatha”, in Celtica, volume 14, pages 27–40

Further reading

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