is é do bheatha

Irish

Irish phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.

Alternative forms

• 's é do bheatha, Dé do bheatha, Dia do bheatha, dé do bheatha, dé do bheathasa, dé bheathasa

Etymology

From Dé do bheatha with é ‘he, it’ substituted for dé, dia reinterpreted as meaning ‘god’; ultimately 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 Scottish Gaelic 's e do bheatha (“don’t mention it, you are welcome”).

Phrase

is é do bheatha

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

Usage notes

• Often interpreted as meaning “it is your life” or “he is your life”.

Synonyms

• Dé do bheatha, 'sé do bheatha
• is é bhur mbeatha (addressed to two or more people)

References

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

Further reading

• Dinneen, Patrick S. (1904) “beatha”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 1st edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 63
• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “beatha”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN