The greatest gift ever?

Laoch · **Joined:** Mon 10 Aug 2015 5:27 am **Posts:** 40

There's a new baby in our family and for a card, we would like to use the above
whats the best translation for "The greatest gift ever" in this sense?
Go raibh mile maith agat

Asarlaí · **Joined:** Wed 15 Apr 2020 12:09 pm **Posts:** 47

Laoch wrote:

There's a new baby in our family and for a card, we would like to use the above
whats the best translation for "The greatest gift ever" in this sense?
Go raibh mile maith agat

Comhghairdeas (congratulations), I'm learning Irish myself but to get it started

An bronntanas is fearr go deo - The greatest gift ever

Maybe the word blessing would work well too

An bheannacht is fearr go deo - The greatest blessing ever

Please wait for others to reply

tiomluasocein · **Joined:** Thu 01 Sep 2011 11:36 pm **Posts:** 687

Asarlaí wrote:

Laoch wrote:

There's a new baby in our family and for a card, we would like to use the above
whats the best translation for "The greatest gift ever" in this sense?
Go raibh mile maith agat

Comhghairdeas (congratulations), I'm learning Irish myself but to get it started

An bronntanas is fearr go deo - The greatest gift ever

Maybe the word blessing would work well too

An bheannacht is fearr go deo - The greatest blessing ever

Please wait for others to reply

Those would translate literally as "The best gift/blessing forever". I'm not sure if they would not be acceptable.

Another try, a literal translation:

An bronntanas is mó riamh.

Labhrás · **Joined:** Sat 03 May 2014 4:01 pm **Posts:** 1971

Asarlaí wrote:

Laoch wrote:

There's a new baby in our family and for a card, we would like to use the above
whats the best translation for "The greatest gift ever" in this sense?
Go raibh mile maith agat

Comhghairdeas (congratulations), I'm learning Irish myself but to get it started

An bronntanas is fearr go deo - The greatest gift ever

Maybe the word blessing would work well too

An bheannacht is fearr go deo - The greatest blessing ever

Please wait for others to reply

Ní cheapaim go ndéarfaí "... is fearr go deo", deirtear "... is fearr ar fad" nó "... is fearr i bhfad"

I don't think people would say "... is fearr go deo", they say "... is fearr ar fad" or "... is fearr i bhfad"

Asarlaí · **Joined:** Wed 15 Apr 2020 12:09 pm **Posts:** 47

Labhrás wrote:

Ní cheapaim go ndéarfaí "... is fearr go deo", deirtear "... is fearr ar fad" nó "... is fearr i bhfad"

I don't think people would say "... is fearr go deo", they say "... is fearr ar fad" or "... is fearr i bhfad"

Thanks Labhrás. What would you or others suggest for a translation of 'The greatest gift ever'?
(so the original poster as a definitive answer)

Laoch · **Joined:** Mon 10 Aug 2015 5:27 am **Posts:** 40

Thank you so much, everyone, for your input! I am very grateful for all your help.

Labhrás · **Joined:** Sat 03 May 2014 4:01 pm **Posts:** 1971

Asarlaí wrote:

Labhrás wrote:

Ní cheapaim go ndéarfaí "... is fearr go deo", deirtear "... is fearr ar fad" nó "... is fearr i bhfad"

I don't think people would say "... is fearr go deo", they say "... is fearr ar fad" or "... is fearr i bhfad"

Thanks Labhrás. What would you or others suggest for a translation of 'The greatest gift ever'?
(so the original poster as a definitive answer)

an bronntanas is fearr amuigh, i bhfad, ar fad

If you want to have the time adverb "ever" there must be an action.
Even in English "the best ... ever" involves some kind of understood action, i.e. "the best gift (I) ever (got)"
Of course, this action ist past tense (because you'll never know: you might get a better gift tomorrow or next birthday.)
So, "go deo" can't be used - but "riamh".
In Irish, the action is usually not omitted. (Though sometimes you will hear "is fearr riamh" by non-native speakers)

an bronntanas is fearr a fuair mé riamh
an bronntanas is fearr dá bhfuair mé riamh

Laoch · **Joined:** Mon 10 Aug 2015 5:27 am **Posts:** 40

Labhrás wrote:

an bronntanas is fearr amuigh, i bhfad, ar fad

Would this work for a card?

Errigal · **Joined:** Fri 09 Sep 2011 2:06 pm **Posts:** 715

Laoch wrote:

Labhrás wrote:

an bronntanas is fearr amuigh, i bhfad, ar fad

Would this work for a card?

Yes - any one of the three.

'An bronntanas is fearr i bhfad' - 'the best present by far'
'An bronntanas is fearr ar fad' and 'an bronntanas is fearr amuigh' can both be translated as 'the best possible present/best present ever/ best present of all' etc.

tiomluasocein · **Joined:** Thu 01 Sep 2011 11:36 pm **Posts:** 687

Labhrás wrote:

If you want to have the time adverb "ever" there must be an action.
Even in English "the best ... ever" involves some kind of understood action, i.e. "the best gift (I) ever (got)"
Of course, this action ist past tense (because you'll never know: you might get a better gift tomorrow or next birthday.)
So, "go deo" can't be used - but "riamh".
In Irish, the action is usually not omitted. (Though sometimes you will hear "is fearr riamh" by non-native speakers)
[/b]

On Foclóir, they offer the following examples, without showing action. How are these different in grammar than saying, "an bronntanas is mó riamh"?

an leibhéal is ísle riamh
an leibhéal is airde riamh

Forum rules

The greatest gift ever?

Who is online