Hello there. About to turn 40 next month and will be in Boston, MA. Figured now would be as good time as any to get my first tattoo. I'd rather find out if I have the correct translation BEFORE I get inked.

Several years ago I heard the phrase "Son of My Heart". Someone told me an Irish translation would be something like "Ah Mac Mo Croi" or something like that. Can any Irish speakers correct me on this? Is this a proper term? What is the correct spelling?

I want to get this saying along with my step-son's initials. Although he is not my biological son, he is very much a son of my heart. Thought this might be a cool idea for my first and likely last tattoo.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

A Mhic mo chroí [said when addressing him directly]
Mac mo chroí [said when discussing him, but not talking to him]

When you address someone in Irish, that person's name/title goes into the "vocative" case, preceded by the vocative particle "A". That's what is happening in English when one says "O God, we beseech thee ..." or even something like "Oh, John, would you do this?" Most people don't realize that's a remnant of the vocative case in English, and often confuse the vocative particle "O" with the word "Oh".

It doesn't matter whether you would normally say the "O" part in English. In Irish you must use the "A".

_________________
I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

Could you also say Mac mo chroí ó?
Never quite sure how this construction works. I'm pretty sure you could say Mo mhac ó, but could you use it with a phrase like that?

Cuisle mo chroí.

Not gender specific!

The times I've heard it, it's still been used with the vocative: ("a mhic ó").

Redwolf

I'd go with Mac mo chroí. In a tattoo you are not talking to him, but about him.

A mhicó - is an idiomatic expression, not appropriate in this context.

_________________
___________________________________________________________

It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
___________________________________________________________

Awesome! Thanks everybody.

I have an appoinment booked and afterwards I'll head to the pub and toast my new friends here.