40 Irish Sayings And Their Meanings

Are you looking for the most popular Irish sayings and their meaning?

The Irish culture is renowned for its colorful language and witty expressions. It is no surprise then that the Irish have a wealth of sayings that showcase their distinct outlook on life, ranging from poetic proverbs to clever quips.

Irish sayings are a great source of wisdom, humor, and charm that you can enjoy.

RELATED READ: Best Irish Sayings That Are Timeless And Relatable

Today, we’ll introduce you to some of the widely known Irish sayings – from insightful reminders about love and life to some funny well-wishes you’ll hear at parties.

40 Irish Sayings And Their Meanings

Irish Sayings About Love and Friendship

The Irish have a reputation for their lyricism and the depth of their emotional expression. The sayings they have concerning love and friendship are prime example of this.

1. Giorraíonn beirt bóthar. 

Two people shorten the road.

You won’t feel the passage of time so long as you have someone to talk to and listen to.

2. Tá sé éasca an práta a roinnt ina dhá leath nuair atá grá ann 

It is easy to halve the potato where there is love.

If you truly care for someone, you’ll give them what you can without expecting anything in return.

3. Níl glan aimsire nach bhfuil léine fear ann.

It’s a lonely washing that has no man’s shirt in it.

Everyone needs someone to love (and someone to do the laundry with).

4. An té a chaillfidh airgead, caillfidh sé go leor;
An té a chaillfidh cara, caillfidh sé níos mó;
Agus an té a chaillfidh creideamh, caillfidh sé go léir.

He who loses money, loses much; He who loses a friend loses more; And he who loses faith loses all” is:

This quotation emphasizes the importance of friendship and faith over material belongings.

Irish Sayings About Life

The Irish have a distinctive worldview, which is represented in the colorful language and the memorable sayings that they have.

5. Is ait an mac an saol.

Life is strange.

6. Glac bog an saol agus glacfaidh an saol bog tú.

Take the world nice and easy, and the world will take you the same.
Essentially synonymous with “smile and the world smiles with you,”

7. Is é an taithí an coim scíth a thugann an saol don bhfear gan gruaig. 

Experience is the comb that life gives a bald man.

A man with enough life experience to have his hair fall out has lived a long and fruitful life.

8. Ná gearán faoin aois a fhásann ort, tá an t-ádh curtha ar cheann de mhórán a bheith faoi choimirce.

Do not feel bad about becoming older; many people are denied the opportunity.

9. Tá an saol cosúil le cupán tae; tá sé i gceist conas a dhéanann tú é. 

Life is like a cup of tea; it’s all in how you make it.

What you do in life determines how you live it.

10. Is cuma cé mhéad seomra atá i do theach, ní féidir leat codladh i dteach leaba amháin ach amháin. 

No matter how many rooms you have in your house, you’re only able to sleep in one bed.

No matter how many material possessions one has, the essential requirements for living remain the same for everyone.

11. Is eol don seana-mhaidin na coirnéil briste. 

An old broom knows the dirty corners best.

Gaining experience is the best way to gain wisdom.

12. Is féidir le haon fhear a hata a chailliúint i ngaoth sidhe. 

Any man can lose his hat in a fairy wind.

It’s impossible to prevent or change certain events.

Irish Sayings About Learning

The Irish have a long and storied legacy of sayings devoted to learning, wisdom, and self-improvement because they respect education and the value they place on it.

13. Is é an taithí an eolas is fearr don réirbhir 

Hindsight is the best insight to foresight.

Recognize your flaws and use that knowledge to correct your future actions.

14. Níl sé drochrud é stad agus an fhiodóg a sciorr

It’s not a delay to stop and sharpen the scythe.

Learn as much as you can from every experience.

15. Níor mhéadaigh lacha fiáin colún dó

 A wild goose never reared a tame gosling.

Children learn through example.

16. Is í an chiall cheannaigh an chiall is fearr

Sense bought dearly is the best kind.

This is a gentle reminder that you wouldn’t have learned the lessons you now possess without first making some mistakes.

Irish Sayings About Compassion/Kindness

There are numerous sayings and proverbs in Irish that laud the virtues of compassion because it is such an essential value in Irish culture.

17. Ní bhris focal maith fiacail riamh.

A good word never broke a tooth.

Your generosity will always be repaid.

18. Ni raibh aon chaora bainne sa bhleain nach raibh togra aige.

There was never a scabby sheep in a flock that didn’t like to have a comrade.

Even the most despicable of individuals need friends.

19. Leathan an doras ar an teachín beag.

Wide is the door of the little cottage.

Those with fewer resources are frequently the most charitable.

20. Is fada an bóthar nach bhfuil aon chasadh ann

It’s a long road that has no turn in it.

You never know who you might run into or what you might need down the road, so it’s best to treat everyone kindly.

Irish Sayings About Being Cautious and Worrying

The Irish, despite the irreverent humor, often have a sober and sensible outlook on life. This is reflected in their many proverbs and sayings that stress the importance of giving things some serious thought.

21. Cailltear go leor long i gcógar na habhann

A lot of ships are lost in the whisper of the river.

It’s never a good idea to let your guard down, even if everything seems safe.

22. Glacann fear críonna comhairle.

Beware of the anger of a patient man.

You know things are serious if you manage to enrage a patient man.

23. Ná bíodh eagla ar an ngaoth gan do sciathán a bheith briste.

Don’t fear an ill wind if your haystacks are tied down.

If you have everything in order, you won’t have any problems.

24. Ná bíodh eagla ort roimh an gheimhreadh go bhfuil an tsearrach ar an mbealach.

Never dread the winter til the snow is on the blanket.

As long as you have a roof over your head, you won’t have to worry about the weather.

Irish Sayings About Hard Work and Success

The Irish appreciate hard work and persistence highly and have a strong work ethic as a result. This is demonstrated by their sayings that extol the benefits of hard work and perseverance.

25. Ní dhéanfaidh tú péindlíocht talún a chleachtaíocht trí cheann a chur air.

You’ll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind.

Quit mulling things over and go to work!

26. Ní mór duit do chuid fás féin a dhéanamh, is cuma cé chomh ard ag do dhaid i.

You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your father was.

There is never any assurance of success.

27. Tógann sé am chun caisleáin a thógáil.

It takes time to build castles.

Consistency and forethought will pay off in the end.

28. Imíonn an tuirse is fanann an tairbhe.

Tiredness goes away and the benefit remains.

The effort put in now will be worthwhile along the road.

29. Is fear éan beag sa láimh ná corr sa chorráiste

A wren in the hand is better than a crane out of it.

A moderate level of success is preferable to a significant level of failure.

30. Caithfidh tú na cnónna a chracadh sula bhfaighidh tú an brainse.

You must crack the nuts before you can eat the kernel.

To be successful requires a lot of effort.

31. Mura gcuirfidh tú san Earrach ní bhainfidh tú sa bhFómhar.

If you don’t sow in Spring you won’t reap in Autumn.

This is a reminder that nothing happens without some sort of preparation or effort on your part.

32. Ní dhéanfaidh smaoineamh an treabhadh duit.

Thinking will not do the plowing for you.

Preparing without action is futile.

Irish Sayings About Luck

Irish sayings about luck contain a richness of knowledge and inspiration, ranging from reminders to count our blessings to wishes for good fortune.

33. Bíonn an t-ádh leat níos mó ná éirí go luath

Good luck beats early rising.

For no apparent reason, some people enjoy better fortune than others.

34. Cibé áit a dtéann tú agus cibé rud a dhéanann tú, go mbeadh furtún na hÉireann leat

Wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you.

This is an Irish blessing meant to bring success in one’s undertakings and on one’s travels.

35. An fear a bhfuil an t-ádh ar maidin, bíonn an t-ádh aige san tráthnóna.

The man who has luck in the morning has luck in the afternoon.

If one’s day gets off to a good start, then that person can expect to keep on having good fortune throughout the day.

Funny Irish Sayings

It is well known that Irish people have a great sense of humor, and this trait is reflected in the numerous witty and irreverent sayings that have become a treasured part of the culture of the Irish people.

36. Is sóisialta gach fear go dtí go ndéanann bó a invéadh ar a ghairdín..

Every man is sociable until a cow invades his garden.

One can’t be nice all the time. We all have our off days.

37. Is milis an t-ocras anlann.

Hunger is good sauce.

Everything tastes good when you’re hungry.

38. Sláinte chuig namhad namhaid agus go mairfidh siad!

Here’s health to your enemies’ enemies!

An Irish toast that expresses support for a friend who’s often challenged by other people.

39. Go mbeadh tú ag fáil réidh roimh dháimh an diabhail sula dtuigeann sé go bhfuil tú marbh!

May you be at the gates of heaven an hour before the devil knows you’re dead!

If you want to wish someone a long and happy life, you can’t go wrong with this cheeky Irish blessing.

40. Níl cúram ar bith ann, ná déanann im agus fuisce.

What butter and whiskey won’t cure, there is no cure for.

Butter and whisky are the best products in Ireland. Like a cure, both make things better. However, if you have tried both and you still don’t feel well, then there’s probably no remedy to what’s ailing you… or so the Irish say.