Why do the Irish say top of the morning to you?

Essentially it means “The best part of the morning to you”; a typical response would be “And the rest of the day to you.” In his much-loved book English As We Speak It In Ireland (1910), P. W. Joyce reported that the expression was used throughout the country; a century later, this is no longer the case.


What does Top of the morning mean in Ireland?

(Ireland, New England, idiomatic, archaic, sometimes humorous) A generic, cheerful greeting said to someone in the morning.

Why do people say top of the morning to you?

It's an Irish expression and means "the best of the morning to you" and an appropriate reply is "And the rest of the day to you".


What do the Irish say in the morning?

The simplest: maidin mhaith

“Maidin mhaaaaith!” Maidin mhaith, which is the simplest way to say “good morning” in Irish, is a direct translation of the English phrase.

How do Irish people greet each other in the morning?

Dia dhaoibh ar maidin

Pronounced as JEE-uh g(w)itch air MA-jin, Dia dhuit ar maidin is how you say “Good morning” to one person. Meanwhile, Dia dhaoibh ar maidin (pronounced as JEE-uh YEE-uv air MA-jin is how you say “Good morning” to multiple people in Irish, in a slightly formal manner.


Do people say “top of the morning” in Ireland? (Podcast 011)



What is the most Irish thing to say?

Contents hide
  • 1.1 “Top o the mornin to ya!”
  • 1.2 “And the rest of the day to yourself”.
  • 1.3 “To be sure, to be sure”.
  • 1.4 “a pint of the black stuff”
  • 1.5 “He's talking a load of Blarney”


How do you respond to top of the morning?

Essentially it means “The best part of the morning to you”; a typical response would be “And the rest of the day to you.”

What do Irish people say instead of hello?

Saying Hello in Ireland. To say “Hello” in Irish Gaelic, you say: Dia dhuit. That phrase is how you say hello to someone in Irish.


How do you apologize in Irish?

Another short and casual way of apologizing to someone is by saying "Tá brón orm." This means that I have sorrow on me. This would indicate that what you did or what happened saddens you as much as it saddens the other person.

How do you greet an Irish person?

The most common greeting is the handshake. The Irish usually shake hands when being introduced or when greeting a friend or work colleague. In formal situations or with people of higher status, titles and last names are used. Among close friends and family, the Irish may hug and kiss each other on the cheek.

Where did top of the morning originate?

The phrase is Irish in origin but now very rarely used in Ireland (except as a sterotypical "Irishism"). It simply means "the best of the morning to you" - perhaps from the idea of unhomogenised milk, where the cream rises to the top.


Is top of the morning formal?

In British English it's more dated than anything else, in modern speech it would come across as a bit of a joke. It's not rude (well it could be in a cod-Irish accent). In America I think the teacher would likely say to themselves, "What's up with him? He's way too chipper this morning."

Is Top of the morning to you correct?

“Top of the morning to you,” a greeting massively associated with the Irish sociolect, denotes the meaning of “best of the morning to you.” It is a more creative way to say “good morning” which can be responded with “and the rest of the morning to you.” Although the expression is tagged as a typical part of Irish ...

How do you say yes in Irish?

To answer yes to this question, you say “Is Meiriceánach mé” or the short version is Is ea, commonly pronounced shah.


What do Irish say after a sneeze?

In Ireland after someone sneezes, we say 'Dia leat' [pronounced dee-ah latt] meaning, 'God be with you' or 'Dia linn' [pronounced dee-ah lynn] meaning 'God be with us'. Being a Catholic country, God shows up in a lot of Irish language.

What do the Irish call a girl?

“Cailín” means “girl” in the Irish language. A lot of Irish people still use this word even when speaking in English. The plural, “Cailíní,” is also commonly used, for example, “I'm meeting up with the cailíní later on.” One of our absolute favorite Irish phrases!

What do Irish call their lovers?

“Mo chara” is used for a man or “Mo cara” is for a woman; “Mo Anam Cara” means "my soul mate" and can be found on one of our necklaces, bracelets, rings and even framed art.


What do Irish call kissing?

Póg. This is the Irish word for a “kiss” e.g. “give us a póg” or even cuter a “póigín”. This is not to be confused with asking something to “Póg Mo Thóin” (Kiss my arse).

How do you respond to good morning in flirty way?

Flirty Good Morning Texts
  1. Cuddling with you would be perfect right now.
  2. I was dreaming of you all night long.
  3. I think of you every morning and dream of you every night.
  4. Good morning, pretty.
  5. The best part of my morning is you. ...
  6. I hope you spend your day thinking of me. ...
  7. Hoping you slept well.


Do leprechauns say top of the morning to you?

Few dialect myths rankle more people than the purported Irish phrase, “top o' the morning.” Any Irish person will inform you that they have never, ever heard even one of their countrymen utter these words.


How do you say good morning in a classy way?

Ways to Say Good Morning
  1. Rise and shine! – This is usually said when you are in the process of waking someone from sleep.
  2. Top of the morning to you! ...
  3. Good day to you.
  4. Have a great day.
  5. Hello there!
  6. Wishing you the best for the day ahead.
  7. How are you this fine morning?
  8. Isn't it a beautiful day today?


What should you not say to an Irish person?

Things Tourists Should Never Say in Ireland
  • “I'm Irish” Unless you actually are, of course. ...
  • Quizzing about potatoes. ...
  • Anything about an Irish car bomb. ...
  • “Top of the morning to you” ...
  • “Everything is better in… ...
  • “St Patty's Day” ...
  • “Do you know so-and-so from…” ...
  • “I love U2”


What do the Irish call the bathroom?

The Jacks. In Ireland, 'the jacks' means 'toilet', most commonly used to refer to public bathrooms.


Why does Irish say kiss me?

Kiss me, I'm Irish is a common phrase associated with St. Patrick's Day. It often appears on T-shirts. It originates from the legend of the Blarney Stone, which is believed to bring luck and eloquence to those who kiss it.