How To Say Happy New Year In Irish Gaelic

Do you want to learn how to say Happy New Year in Irish Gaelic? 

On the eve of the beginning of a new year, Irish people gather with friends and family to toast the new year. However, several more ancient traditions are still practiced. These traditions may seem odd but interesting and, in some cases, remain relevant.

One of these New Year traditions in Ireland is having coal in the house, as coal is a symbol of fertility, wealth, and security. Another strange custom is banging pots with wooden spoons to scare away evil spirits to usher in the new year.

In addition to their unique culture, the Irish are known for their beautiful native language. Saying “Happy New Year” in Irish Gaelic is something you must learn if you’re visiting Ireland as the year ends and another begins.

It is acceptable and expected for a traveler visiting Ireland to greet someone on the New Year in English. However, if you’re in an area where Gaelic is still spoken or with someone who has strong ties to the language, making an extra effort will be appreciated more often than not.

Learning a bit of Irish may appear challenging, but it’s quite easy and fun! Read on for our quick guide to saying “Happy New Year” in Irish Gaelic.

How To Say Happy New Year In Irish Gaelic

1. Athbhliain faoi mhaise dhuit – Happy New Year To You

When you want to wish someone a “Happy New Year” in Irish, you don’t just say “Happy New Year”. Instead, you directly address the person you are talking to by saying “Happy New Year To You.”

If you want to wish someone a happy new year in Irish, you say Athbhliain faoi mhaise dhuit, which is pronounced as ath leen fui washa ditch.

If we break this expression down by word, you get the following direct translations:

Athbhliain – refers to the coming, following year

Faoi – means “under” or “in”

Mhaise – translates to “good, prosperous”

dhuit – means “to you” (singular)

Therefore, the greeting wishes someone a new year that’s good and prosperous.

2. Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh – Happy New Year To You(s)

This is how you wish a group of people a “Happy New Year” in Irish, where Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh is pronounced as ath leen fui washa dheev.

Irish Gaelic differentiates between “you” when addressing one person and “you” when addressing multiple people.

“To you “is an important component of the greeting, and it differs depending on whether you are speaking to one person or several.

The plural “to you” (many, plural) in this greeting is daoibh, pronounced as dheev, while the singular is dhuit, pronounced as dhuit.

3. How to respond if someone greets you with a “Happy New Year” in Irish

If someone says Athbhliain faoi mhaise dhuit to you, here are the ways you can return the greeting:

● You can simply say Athbhliain faoi mhaise dhuit (Happy new year to you) back, or

● You can thank them first and then return the greeting. You can say Go raibh maith agat, Athbhliain faoi mhaise dhuit, which means thank you, happy new year to you!

4. How to say “New Year’s Eve” in Irish Gaelic

● Oíche Chinn Bliana – New Years’ Eve
This expression directly translates to Year’s End Night, pronounced as “ee-ha kin blee-ana.”

● Oíche na Coda Móire – also means “New Year’s Eve”
This is another term for this particular night, which focuses on the practice of cooking a large supper for the final day of the year. The precise translation of this phrase is “The Night of the Great Feast,”

5. Other useful New Year expressions in Irish

The following are Irish Gaelic expressions that you may hear while in Ireland:

● Sláinte – cheers (to health) this is similar to the French expression ‘sante’ which is used during a toast.

● an Bhliain Nua – the new year

● beannachtaí – a greeting that’s also a blessing

● Ceol – music

● Comóradh – celebration

● Lá Caille – new years day