Irish Sayings About Health

Sláinte means health, and it is the most widely known Irish word in the world because it doubles as a toast. That double duty runs through this whole page: in Irish, wishing someone health and drinking to them are the same gesture.

The proverbs are firm on the priority. Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte (health is better than herds) puts health above wealth in a culture that measured wealth in cattle, which is a stronger claim than the usual English rendering suggests.

The blessings are the ones to use when someone is ill or recovering. Go gcasa Dia an tsláinte ort asks God to turn health back toward you, and it is what you say to someone who has been unwell rather than a general good wish.