Do British people say top of the morning to you?

We often say good morning or simply morning to the people as a way to greet them in the morning. This is a phrase that normally people use for wishing others well for the day. It is used in both formal and informal ways to greet friends, colleagues, seniors, teachers and everyone else. But top of the morning is used a massive greeting which is often used to express happiness. If you had watched the movie Leap Year that was released in the year 2010, you will already know this term. This phrase was used in one of the most unforgettable scenes. But what does it mean?

What does it mean when someone says top of the morning to you?

Top of the morning to you means the best wishes for the morning to you. This phrase is mostly associated with Irish culture. It is actually a more creative version of saying good morning to a person. In response to which, one can say and rest of the morning to you.

Though this phrase is mostly a part of the Irish culture, nowadays, they dont use this that often. Hence, if you use the phrase inappropriately, it can be misinterpreted as being racist or stereotypical. So, if you want to use this, make sure you are using it cautiously.

What is the origin of the phrase top of the morning?

The origin of the phrase top of the morning is in the Irish culture of both the Southern and the Northern parts of the country. They use this phrase as an ordinary and simple salutation for wishing someone good morning. According to a report, this expression was used mostly in the first 3 decades of the 19th century. But gradually the use of this phrase started to decline from 1830s but again it started to be used in the 1990s.

Is saying top of the morning considered offensive?

Though the phrase top of the morning is not offensive at all as it is mainly used for greeting someone best for the day, some Irish people can cringe if they are heavily associated with the phrase. But if done inappropriately or totally out of the context, then this expression can come across a bit offensive to the people with Irish descent. This means you shouldnt deliberately greet an Irish client, boss or coworker with this phrase if you dont have a proper relationship with them. But while discussing on Irish culture over a meal or coffee, it is considered passable.

So, in short, it is better to avoid using the term unnecessarily or without any context towards a person just because he/she belongs to an Irish background or linked with Ireland in some way or the other. In such cases, it is better to use other phrases or forms for greeting so that you dont unintentionally offend someone. However, if you use this term in right context or in the right occasion, it will not be perceived as discrimination.

5 examples of when people may say top of the morning to you

If you want to know where or when you can use the phrase top of the morning freely without sounding offensive, then you are at the right place. When you use this term casually and within a context, it could not be interpreted as offensive. Here are 5 example of where or how you can use it.

1. On St. Patricks Day

You can use this phrase on the St. Patricks Day to wish your friends, colleagues and anyone with Irish background. Using it on that day may not consider as an offensive or racist behavior by the Irish people. But do not use it all the time. In this day, everyone celebrates one of the best occasions of Ireland and wishing everyone with this phrase is not generally considered as offensive.

2. Use by Newscaster

A newscaster can use this phrase as his/her opening remark on a program for greeting his/her audiences. For example: Top of the morning to you all! We are live in New York and we are celebrating St. Patricks Day today. But apart from the St. Patricks Day, a newscaster can also use this term occasionally to greet his/her audiences in the morning.

3. Use by the travel bloggers

If you are travelling to Ireland and you are blogging there, you can greet your viewers from there by saying the phrase top of the morning. For example: Hello, my friends! Top of the morning to everyone and today I am in Ireland exploring all the beautiful places here. Being in Ireland, you may not use this on every person you meet but definitely you can use this phrase at least once in your blog without offending anyone.

4. Use in friendly email

If you are sending a friendly and informal email to your friend who is from Irish background, you may use this phrase without being perceived as offensive. For example: Hello, top of the morning to you! and then rest of the mail. Make sure that your friend is okay with this term and doesnt feel offended.

5. Use in friendly text

If you have a good friend or a coworker who is extremely close to you, then you can use this term in the text as well. For example: Top of the morning to you my dear friend. Meet me at 7 for coffee today. This can be used only when you share a good relationship with that friend or coworker.

Alternatives to saying top of the morning

There are many phrases that can be used as an alternative for top of the morning. If you think that someone can get offended due to the use of this phrase, then it is better to avoid it. Instead of that, you can use many other terms such as:

• Wish you a very good morning
• Rise and shine [for waking up someone from sleep]
• Good morning
• Have a great day
• Wish you the best day ahead

Some of these can be used in formal conversation too and all of these can be used in an informal conversation in place of the phrase top of the morning.