Hi -

Today would have been my grandfather's 73rd birthday. I'd like to get a tattoo as a memorial, and was hoping you could help with the translation. The two phrases I'm thinking of are:

"There are no goodbyes"

and

"If you ain't got family, you ain't got nothing"

I realize the word "ain't" most likely does not translate well, but these were both things my grandfather used to say.

Also, is there a good translation for "sweetheart"?

I really appreciate any help I can get.
Thanks in advance,
Christine

Ok, I'm not sure, so PLEASE, wait for someone to give further input in case I make any mistakes of any kind!

There are no goodbyes. This is a tricky one. The only way I could come up with is "Ní shcartar."

If you ain't.....
Ní aon rud agat gan mhuintir.
Or takin' a stab at being poetic. Mara mhuintir agat ní thugtar.
Or
Gan mhuintir ní thugtar. (Those may be really stretching it.)

Sweetheart. Stór.

(Message edited by Maidhc_Ó_G. on April 24, 2006)

(Message edited by Maidhc_Ó_G. on April 24, 2006)

Like Maidhc I'll say this is an attempt so PLEASE wait for more:

Níl aon slán ann. There is no goodbye.

Gan chlann, níl tada agat. Without family, you ain't got nothing.

A chuilse, and
A ghrá, are other ways to say Sweetheart.

Wait for more help and maybe corrections of the above,
C

Thanks so much to both of you for your help so far. And thank you for being honest in telling me to wait for more help. Do any of the fluent speakers have comments? Corrections? After all, if I'm getting this put on my skin permanently, I'd like it to be right. :-)

Hi, Christine:

Welcome.

I have a suggestion: you could check out the "Proverbs" section on this website. There's plenty of 'em on all different topics. Maybe you'll find an applicable one... sometimes things/sentiments don't translate well and if it's gonna be on your skin permanently, this might be the better route.

All the best, Paul

Sweetheart... you could say mo chuisle (my pulse)
or mo chroí (my heart), a stór (darling)