ireland.localmean.com/slainte
sláinte
SLAWN-cha
Local meaning
Health; commonly used as a toast meaning roughly “to your health” or “cheers.”
Sláinte is an Irish-language word for health. In English-language settings it is widely recognized as a toast, but Irish pronunciation varies by dialect and fuller toast formulas also exist.
Examples in context
- They raised their glasses and said, “Sláinte!”
- The sign used sláinte as part of a health campaign.
How it is used
Use a natural voice rather than exaggerating an imagined accent. The one-word toast is common, but it is not the only Irish way to toast.
Celebratory, friendly, ceremonial, or health-related.
Toasts, hospitality, Irish-language learning, signs, and cultural events.
Commonly understood in Ireland; naturalness varies by region, generation, and relationship.
Browser voice may not reproduce Irish phonology accurately; consult official regional recordings.
Spelling and scope
Contemporary Irish English, with regional and generational variation.
- Search and reference forms
slaintesláinte mhaith
LocalMean keeps common search spellings discoverable. Regional, historical, and Irish-language forms remain attached to one canonical meaning page rather than being split into duplicate entries.
Common patterns
- sláinte!
- sláinte mhaith
- to health
Read next
All words →Evidence and further reading
These sources support the vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, or cultural context. The entry remains open to correction from Irish speakers, regional communities, and qualified reviewers.
- Sláinte — Irish dictionary and pronunciationForas na Gaeilge / Teanglann
Official Irish-language dictionary reference for sláinte, meaning health and used in toasts.
- The Oxford Handbook of Irish EnglishOxford University Press
Comprehensive scholarly overview of English varieties across the island of Ireland, including history, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, pragmatics, and regional variation.