Slainte (a new 'what do they say' thread)

[Calico]

I was out and about kilted today. Two young (mid 20's) guys were approaching the store I was leaving and each was carrying stuff. So I held the door for them.

The first one says "slainte" as he passes by.

I had never heard the word said aloud before, so I had no ready comeback. Took severals seconds and the door had closed before I realized what he had said.

It does sound like suh-LAN-shuh, doesn't it?

I new one for what people say to me when kilted! A good day.

[piperdbh]

"Thanks!" would probably work just fine.

[Blackrose87]

Slainte means cheers or good health, but it wouldn't really make sense in the circumstance you've described. At least, I've never heard anyone use it like this, and I have a few friends with Irish as thier first language.

I can't really think of something that would sound similiar, but make sense here. Although my Irish isn't great, and I barely know any scots Gaelic.

[Seanmadra]

I think his use of slainte in this circumstance could have been a take on the UK "cheers", sometimes used as thanks.

Thanks in Irish would be go raibh maith agat (said quickly it sounds like gurrah my Ahgut) to which you would reply ta failte romhat (ta falche row aht, or row eht, depending up which Irish dialect you are using). Just my two bits on that.

[Blackrose87]

I think his use of slainte in this circumstance could have been a take on the UK "cheers", sometimes used as thanks.

Thanks in Irish would be go raibh maith agat (said quickly it sounds like gurrah my Ahgut) to which you would reply ta failte romhat (ta falche row aht, or row eht, depending up which Irish dialect you are using). Just my two bits on that.

Actually in the north we would pronounce it like 'ta falcha rove'.
But the dialects change greatly throughout the country, and although I grew up in the north, my Irish teacher was from Galway, so I think my accents a bit messed up.

I suppose literally, slainte could be used like thanks, but as far as I'm aware it's never used like that here.

[mookien]

... The first one says "slainte" as he passes by.

I had never heard the word said aloud before, so I had no ready comeback. Took severals seconds and the door had closed before I realized what he had said.

It does sound like suh-LAN-shuh, doesn't it?

I new one for what people say to me when kilted! A good day. ...

"Slainte" is a most-often used toast meaning, "cheers".

I've heard it many times pronounced simply as "slanj", where the 'a' is pronounced as in Bach.

You could have replied, "slainte mhath", which is pronounced as "slanje var" in which the 'e' is pronounced as the 'a' in "day". It means "good health".

[Blackrose87]

"Slainte" is a most-often used toast meaning, "cheers".

I've heard it many times pronounced simply as "slanj", where the 'a' is pronounced as in Bach.

You could have replied, "slainte mhath", which is pronounced as "slanje var" in which the 'e' is pronounced as the 'a' in "day". It means "good health".

Technically sláinte means health, but you're right, it is used to mean 'cheers'.

It can however be seen in its literal meaning in many instances,
e.g An Roinn Sláinte. (Department of Health)

I think there may be some mixing up of languages here, as the prouniciation 'slanj' and 'slàinte mhath' are both Scottish Gaelic, while 'sláinte' is Irish.

I suppose it depends whether the guy said 'sláinte' or 'slàinte'

[mookien]

Technically sláinte means health, but you're right, it is used to mean 'cheers'.

It can however be seen in its literal meaning in many instances,
e.g An Roinn Sláinte. (Department of Health)

I think there may be some mixing up of languages here, as the prouniciation 'slanj' and 'slàinte mhath' are both Scottish Gaelic, while 'sláinte' is Irish.

I suppose it depends whether the guy said 'sláinte' or 'slàinte'

Moran taing! You clearly know more Gaelic than I do. I was indeed referring to Scotts Gaelic as opposed to Irish of which I only know one highly technical, but very practical word - Guinness!

[Blackrose87]

Moran taing! You clearly know more Gaelic than I do. I was indeed referring to Scotts Gaelic as opposed to Irish of which I only know one highly technical, but very practical word - Guinness!

Pionta Guinness, le do thoil

that's all you need to know

[mookien]

Pionta Guinness, le do thoil

that's all you need to know

And who says you can't learn anything on this blog.

Thanks!