Everyone I’ve showed this to kept trying to figure out whether it had something to do with free drugs for sailors. That said, everyone I showed it to was probably on drugs anyway. Daiyne‘s tattoo (by Sean Donovan, Sick Creations, Snohomish WA) has a far more responsible explanation — it means “drug free” in Gaelic.
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166 responses to “DRUG’AIL SAOR”
Personally, I prefer the “drugs ‘n’ ale for sailors” theory, myself.
Personally, I prefer the “drugs ‘n’ ale for sailors” theory, myself.
is it scots or irish do you know? i love the font they’ve used.
is it scots or irish do you know? i love the font they’ve used.
I love the ornate lettering very pretty.
But I suspect this person has taken drugs, this is just to show they kicked them.
I love the ornate lettering very pretty.
But I suspect this person has taken drugs, this is just to show they kicked them.
Drugs and ail for sailors haha. I wonder what the symbol on her nape means now.
Drugs and ail for sailors haha. I wonder what the symbol on her nape means now.
Scots is a totally different language from Gaelic. Hard to say whether this is Scottish Gaelic (pronounced gah-lick) or Irish Gaelic (pronounced gay-lick), because the spelling’s usually the same, and the pronunciation differs somewhat.
Scots is a totally different language from Gaelic. Hard to say whether this is Scottish Gaelic (pronounced gah-lick) or Irish Gaelic (pronounced gay-lick), because the spelling’s usually the same, and the pronunciation differs somewhat.
i can’t speak for scots gaelic, but if it’s irish then that shouldn’t be an apostrophe in there.
scots wouldn’t be that different from irish. they’re extremely similar, especially compared to say irish and welsh or scots and welsh.
i can’t speak for scots gaelic, but if it’s irish then that shouldn’t be an apostrophe in there.
scots wouldn’t be that different from irish. they’re extremely similar, especially compared to say irish and welsh or scots and welsh.
there are interesting scars too.
there are interesting scars too.
The spelling and apostraphe are wrong in both languages. It’s kinda like getting a kanji that has a different meaning then what you think it does.
@ red*razors I’m irish and am currently living with a scots man and we can speak gaelic and both understand each other no problem bar some little differences in words.
The spelling and apostraphe are wrong in both languages. It’s kinda like getting a kanji that has a different meaning then what you think it does.
@ red*razors I’m irish and am currently living with a scots man and we can speak gaelic and both understand each other no problem bar some little differences in words.
i think its irish, im fluent. red*razors is right though, scots gaelic is very different, got some similarities though. I can understand scots gaelic if people speak it slowly.
its sorta funny and the person who has this ink mightnt be happy but it means ‘free drugs’ literal translations dont work well with irish unfrotunately
i think its irish, im fluent. red*razors is right though, scots gaelic is very different, got some similarities though. I can understand scots gaelic if people speak it slowly.
its sorta funny and the person who has this ink mightnt be happy but it means ‘free drugs’ literal translations dont work well with irish unfrotunately
Love it. Looks neat and the font is really pretty.
Love it. Looks neat and the font is really pretty.
Yeah, I totally thought it said drugs and ail for sailors.
Yeah, I totally thought it said drugs and ail for sailors.
I was under the impression that drug free was saor o’ drugai, could be wrong though. I assume that if this tattoo was that off, somebody else would have corrected this by now. Seeing that I was apparently wrong, I am very glad I didn’t get that tattooed on my wrists like I was considering! I really like that font, though.
I was under the impression that drug free was saor o’ drugai, could be wrong though. I assume that if this tattoo was that off, somebody else would have corrected this by now. Seeing that I was apparently wrong, I am very glad I didn’t get that tattooed on my wrists like I was considering! I really like that font, though.
too bad it isn’t centered. and i also think it is curious that people get broad statements about themselves tattooed that may not be true in the future… i suppose if things were to change for her, then the tattoo could be taken in a less literal way and more of a badge to a past way of life.
i dunno, just something i wonder about.
too bad it isn’t centered. and i also think it is curious that people get broad statements about themselves tattooed that may not be true in the future… i suppose if things were to change for her, then the tattoo could be taken in a less literal way and more of a badge to a past way of life.
i dunno, just something i wonder about.
See, this is why I haven’t had my ideal tattoo yet (Irish Gaelic text.) I can see that the whole business of translation and meaning is really convoluted. No one wants a tat that reads wrong and exposes one’s ignorance, eh?
See, this is why I haven’t had my ideal tattoo yet (Irish Gaelic text.) I can see that the whole business of translation and meaning is really convoluted. No one wants a tat that reads wrong and exposes one’s ignorance, eh?
Vicious: yep you are right, thats the correct translation.
Saoirsa: hit me up on IAM if you want to and i will give you whatever you need translated…if you want
Vicious: yep you are right, thats the correct translation.
Saoirsa: hit me up on IAM if you want to and i will give you whatever you need translated…if you want
Well, I am digging the Kenna tattoo myself ; ) But the drug free on is nice too!
Well, I am digging the Kenna tattoo myself ; ) But the drug free on is nice too!
Well, to clarify for all… yes, it is centered. It’s my shirt that’s not on straight. The top tattoo is definitely Kenna (a musician) the apostrophe, spelling and grammar are all correct. The apostrophe is actually a little mark over the “a” and in the traditional Irish Gaelic (not modern Gaelic…there’s the difference) is does mean Drug Free. And no, I have never done any drugs at all. It is with that pride that I had this done. Thank you for all of the criticism, but it is to no avail.
Well, to clarify for all… yes, it is centered. It’s my shirt that’s not on straight. The top tattoo is definitely Kenna (a musician) the apostrophe, spelling and grammar are all correct. The apostrophe is actually a little mark over the “a” and in the traditional Irish Gaelic (not modern Gaelic…there’s the difference) is does mean Drug Free. And no, I have never done any drugs at all. It is with that pride that I had this done. Thank you for all of the criticism, but it is to no avail.
the symbol looks a bit like atari, but it’s not.
the symbol looks a bit like atari, but it’s not.
So … it’s a grammatically incorrect Gaelic straightedge tattoo? That’s comedy gold.
So … it’s a grammatically incorrect Gaelic straightedge tattoo? That’s comedy gold.
its cool you never see foreign edge tattoos:P
its cool you never see foreign edge tattoos:P
Somehow I don’t think a statement someone is making about their beliefs and lifestyles they hold close is comedy gold, grammatically incorrect or not. I’m fairly sure a large percentage of the population isn’t going to run up to her, mouths agape in horror, and berate her for the spelling or grammar. It just seems most folks are picking at details, and not considering intent and what it means to her deep down inside. I know her personally, and while this may disqualify me from being considered an impartial judge, but she’s not one to do things impulsively and for a lark. I love the art of it, and highly respect the meaning behind it.
Somehow I don’t think a statement someone is making about their beliefs and lifestyles they hold close is comedy gold, grammatically incorrect or not. I’m fairly sure a large percentage of the population isn’t going to run up to her, mouths agape in horror, and berate her for the spelling or grammar. It just seems most folks are picking at details, and not considering intent and what it means to her deep down inside. I know her personally, and while this may disqualify me from being considered an impartial judge, but she’s not one to do things impulsively and for a lark. I love the art of it, and highly respect the meaning behind it.
yeah the lettering is pretty sweet i have to say, reminds me of the book of kell’s typography
yeah the lettering is pretty sweet i have to say, reminds me of the book of kell’s typography
That ornate lettering is so so beautiful.
That ornate lettering is so so beautiful.
hey, realfolk, gentle…. i was just commenting on how giant labels like that sometimes don’t work out as long as the tattoos do. not that she, specifically, is gonna suddenly start doing blow next week. but things happen, and sometimes drugs are necessary. that’s all.
hey, realfolk, gentle…. i was just commenting on how giant labels like that sometimes don’t work out as long as the tattoos do. not that she, specifically, is gonna suddenly start doing blow next week. but things happen, and sometimes drugs are necessary. that’s all.
I realize that things happen, and that people change. But, that’s not why I got the tattoo. It is a testament to who I am now, and who I have been for the 23 years that I have lived so far. I can’t imagine anything happening to change my views on drugs, but if it did it wouldn’t change who I was in the past; and it definitely wouldn’t make me less proud of who I was.
I realize that things happen, and that people change. But, that’s not why I got the tattoo. It is a testament to who I am now, and who I have been for the 23 years that I have lived so far. I can’t imagine anything happening to change my views on drugs, but if it did it wouldn’t change who I was in the past; and it definitely wouldn’t make me less proud of who I was.