Share the Luck and Language of the Irish

The weather is warming and the discounted chocolate candy hearts are slowly making their way out of window displays and aisle endcaps. While some may look forward to brightly colored eggs or plentiful floral bouquets, we tend to think a little more…green when it comes to the changing seasons. And when we say green we mean St. Patrick’s Day of course.

Besides sipping that pint of beer this St. Paddy’s day, we think delving into the language of the Emerald Isle is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. With Rosetta Stone’s cutting-edge language-learning software, you’ll be on your way to speaking the Irish language, now just $169 for the complete set!

This immersive program introduces you to new languages without the tiresome drills and memorization tactics you used in school. Instead, discover fun and effective skill-building that reflects the real world instead of a classroom. Ready to get started? We’ve pulled together three of our favorite Irish phrases to get you ready to celebrate. Explore the romance and history behind some of our favorite classic Irish sayings.

Luck and Good Wishes

When it comes to Irish history and folklore, few things feature as large as the luck of the Irish. To wish the best upon someone this St. Patrick’s Day, tell them "go n-éirí an t-ádh leat" or "may luck rise to you."  Common English or American connotations behind the word "luck" may lead you to believe that good things happen by chance, but the connection between the "luck of the Irish" actually harkens back to early mining days. As it turns out, having a bit of Irish luck suggested you had been persistent and thoughtful in your endeavors and had more to do with hard work than leprechauns and rainbows.

A Toast to Good Health

A toast while drinking may not strictly be an Irish tradition, but they certainly win the awards for their number of ways to say "cheers." While you may commonly hear various people butchering the phrase "slàinte" while downing a pint this St. Patrick’s Day, this is actually the Scottish version of the popular phrase.  To impress, and be accurate to the country of origin, instead use the Irish "slàinte mhath" when celebrating your next round of Guinness this holiday. The literal translation means "good health," originating in times when beer and other drink was thought to strengthen men and women alike and create a more robust constitution in growing lads.

An Irish Kiss

The Irish are known to have a passionate culture, so it only makes sense that the Irish kiss hello and goodbye would feature in their most popular sayings. Skip the buttons, shirts and other memorabilia and tell someone "tabhair póg dom is Éireannach mé" or "kiss me I’m Irish" this St. Paddy’s Day. The origins of the phrase come from the equally famous Blarney Stone of Ireland, located in the walls of Castle Blarney. As the story goes, visitors who kiss the stone were then blessed with the Gift of Gab, or eloquence, giving even the biggest rake a golden tongue.

If you really want to make an impression this St. Patrick’s Day, you can’t go wrong with learning these and other Irish phrases with the help of Rosetta Stone’s intuitive, award-winning software. Lá fhéile Pádraig sona duit!