Hey folks,
I recently went to Milwaukee Irish Fest, which I attend every year. I asked the volunteers at the language tent to help me with a translation which I am looking at getting tattooed and they referred me to this website for further accuracy from what they gave me.

The English phrase is: "For the rest of my life, I am yours."

They offered "Don chuid eile de mo shaol, tá mé leatsa."
or
"Don chuid eile de mo shaol, is leatsa mé."

The first one is actually also the direct translation from google translator, which made me question how accurate it was.

If anyone could give me further advice as to how this should properly be translated I would be very grateful. I don't intend on getting this tattoo for a while so I have some time to check my sources!

Thanks so much for any help!

The second one is preferable. Irish has two ways of saying "I am" -- one is a "true" verb, the other is what is called the "copula". The first choice you were given uses the verb, the second one uses the copula. They're generally not interchangeable, although there are some borderline cases where people sometimes choose to use one, while other people might use the other one (every language has its inconsistencies). In your case, either could arguably be used, but only because the pronoun le ("with") is used idiomatically in the second phrase, so there would be a difference in meaning (and the first one would arguably not sound normal -- see below):

Don chuid eile de mo shaol, tá mé leatsa.
For the rest of my life, I am with you.
This would sound better as:
Don chuid eile de mo shaol, beidh mé leatsa.
For the rest of my life, I will be with you.

Don chuid eile de mo shaol, is leatsa mé.
For the rest of my life, I'm yours. [This is the idiomatic expression using le]

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

I don't think do is the correct preposition for "for" with regard to time. Usually it is ar feadh in the future. That would give:

Ar feadh na coda an chuid eile de mo shaol, is leatsa mé. "For the rest of my life, I'm yours."

But this seems like a mouthful. Perhaps:

Go deireadh mo shaoil, is leatsa mé. literally "until the end of my life, I'm yours."

Await further input ...

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

I must confess "don chuid eile" is what would first have occurred to me too, but you're right, Breandán: ar feadh ("ar feadha" in Cois Fharraige?), not do is the correct preposition.



Not just a mouthful. I seem to remember that nouns denoting quantity/part, such as cuid, roinnt keep the "common" form, though genitive in function. So, I think 'twould be Ar feadh an chuid eile de mo shaol.

Nah, it's a typo. Fixed above.


I had an inkling there was a rule like that out there somewhere - no wonder it wouldn't roll off the tongue. Also fixed above.

Thanks, Errigal. Glad someone is checking.

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

Thank you for all of the responses to anyone who attempted to translate this. I am finalizing my plans for this tattoo (finally!) and wanted further input to make sure this is accurate. The latest response was translated as:
Ar feadh an chuid eile de mo shaol.
If anyone were to further confirm this translation or add further input I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!

You would need the rest of it. Ar feadh an chuid eile de mo shaol only means 'For the rest of my life'. You'd need the is leatsa mé for the "I'm yours". Though I do like Brendán's shortened version a bit better.