# What does this obviously gaelic phrase mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 24, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-obviously-gaelic-phrase-mean/177202 "2003-05-24T07:40:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Badtz\_Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e36b37/32.png) [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-obviously-gaelic-phrase-mean/177202/1 "2003-05-24T07:40:58Z")
"Go lí maorlathaí míthrócaireach do bhall fearga Go salaí dlíodóir báúil do chuid fo-éadaigh. " ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-obviously-gaelic-phrase-mean/177202/2 "2003-05-24T08:02:16Z")
They’re two different phrases. “May a merciless bureaucrat lick your penis” and “May a sympathetic lawyer soil your underwear.” ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-obviously-gaelic-phrase-mean/177202/3 "2003-05-24T18:21:43Z")
Well, now. There’s a couple of disturbing concepts, even in English. ---
**Author:** ![Baranlaith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@Baranlaith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baranlaith)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-obviously-gaelic-phrase-mean/177202/4 "2003-05-24T21:51:25Z")
_weeping tears of joy at the site of my native tongue_ ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-obviously-gaelic-phrase-mean/177202/5 "2003-05-24T22:05:58Z")
Well. I was all set to start a thread a few days ago but since you’re here… Can you tell me what this means: _céad mile fáilte_. A friend gave us a brass plaque with the above on it and I don’t know what it means. And if you can tell me how to pronounce it properly. Thanks. Patrick ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-obviously-gaelic-phrase-mean/177202/6 "2003-05-24T22:11:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MonkeyMensch \* > \*\*Well. I was all set to start a thread a few days ago but since you’re here… > > Can you tell me what this means: > > _céad mile fáilte_. > > A friend gave us a brass plaque with the above on it and I don’t know what it means. And if you can tell me how to pronounce it properly. Thanks. > > Patrick \*\* Hundred Thousand Welcomes. ---
**Author:** ![japatlgt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@japatlgt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/japatlgt)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-obviously-gaelic-phrase-mean/177202/7 "2003-05-24T22:31:34Z")
Now if we can just get the translations into some fortune cookies. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-obviously-gaelic-phrase-mean/177202/8 "2003-05-24T22:33:25Z")
Anybody know the pronunciation? ---
**Author:** ![t-keela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a3d4f5/32.png) [@t-keela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-keela)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-obviously-gaelic-phrase-mean/177202/9 "2003-05-24T22:38:15Z")
[http://www.vikarsrant.net/GaelicCurses.htm](http://www.vikarsrant.net/GaelicCurses.htm)😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ruiniform](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de053/32.png) [@Ruiniform](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruiniform)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2003, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-obviously-gaelic-phrase-mean/177202/10 "2003-05-24T22:56:38Z")
I don’t actually know much Gaelic, but IIRC it’s pronounced something like “kayd mil-uh fel-cheh”. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2003, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-obviously-gaelic-phrase-mean/177202/11 "2003-05-25T07:26:45Z")
“kayd meel-uh fawl-chuh”. And it should be _míle_ not _mile_.