Why do Irish say top of the morning?
William Smith
Updated on May 21, 2026
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". NB wikipedia incorrectly calls it Irish-American. No, just plain Irish.
Do the Irish actually say top of the morning?
“Top of the morning to you”, or more casually “Top o' the mornin' to ya”, is a well-known traditional Irish greeting that Irish people don't really use any more – at least not without irony, in my experience.What does Top of the morning means?
the top of the morning in British Englisha morning greeting, regarded as a characteristic utterance of Irish people.
Where did the term Top of the morning originate?
Etymology. A working-class phrase apparently once abundant throughout the British Isles in the Victorian era (not especially notable amongst the Irish vis-a-vis other peoples of the Isles), but was perhaps preserved slightly longer with the Irish and Irish diaspora.What is the most Irish thing to say?
Here are 15 Irish expressions to break out on St. Paddy's Day:
- May the road rise up to meet you. ...
- Sláinte! ...
- What's the craic? ...
- May the cat eat you, and may the devil eat the cat. ...
- Two people shorten the road. ...
- Story horse? ...
- On me tod. ...
- Acting the maggot.
Do people say “top of the morning” in Ireland? (Podcast 011)
What is a good Irish greeting?
Best Irish Blessings
- May the road rise up to meet you. ...
- May the leprechauns dance over your bed and bring you sweet dreams.
- May the roof above us never fall in. ...
- If you're lucky enough to be Irish… ...
- May you have love that never ends, ...
- May peace and plenty bless your world. ...
- The grace of God on you.
- Always remember to forget.
How do you reply to Top of the morning?
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".Is Top of the morning Formal?
Yes, it would be regarded as "cute" in the US. Certainly it's OK if you wish to convey a sense of fun early in the morning. But not the greeting you should likely give the president of a large corporation, upon being introduced.What does Erin Go Bragh mean in English?
Definition of Erin go bragh: Ireland forever.
Do the Irish say cheers?
So how do you say “Cheers”? “Cheers” in Irish is sláinte which is pronounced a bit like “slawn-che”. Sláinte means “health”, and if you're feeling brave, you can say sláinte is táinte (“slawn-che iss toin-che”), meaning “health and wealth”.How do Brits say good morning?
Bore da (bore-eh-dah) - Good Morning.What does the Irish word Luchorpan mean?
The root of the word leprechaun is the Irish leipreachán, which comes from the Old Irish luchorpan, literally "a very small body." Definitions of leprechaun. a mischievous elf in Irish folklore.What is another way to say good morning?
Formal ways to say Good morning:
- Good morning.
- Good morning Sir/Mam!
- Good morning Mr….!
- Very great morning!
- Rise and shine!
- Morning!
- Mornin' mi Amigo (male)
- Mornin' mi Amiga (female)
How do Irish greet each other in the morning?
“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 say goodbye?
To say Goodbye in Irish you would say “Slán leat” – literally meaning “goodbye (health) to you”. You can be less formal and just say “Slán”, bye. Or as we say in our own video … “Slán go fóill” – Bye for now.What does Irish Goodbye mean?
But etiquette experts are unlikely to back up any of them, especially the so-called "Irish goodbye." A slang phrase rumored to have originated in the Northeast, an "Irish goodbye" refers to a person ducking out of a party, social gathering or very bad date without bidding farewell.How do you use top of the morning?
“Top of the morning to you”: Usage and ExamplesPatrick's day. What is this? A newscaster may use “Top of the morning to you” as an opening remark in a media program to start a report.
How do you respond to good morning from a guy?
Examples of what to say to a guy after receiving a good morning text:
- Good morning! How are you?
- Good morning to you! I'm happy I'm on your mind so bright and early xo.
- Hey babe! Glad I'm on your mind!
- Hey! What do you have going on this morning?
- Hey cutie! ...
- Right back at ya! ...
- Hey you! ...
- Good morning!