How to Respond to “Top of the Morning!” (What It Means & Examples)

If you’re reading this in the morning, top of the morning to you!

Of all the morning greetings, “top of the morning” is one of my favorites as it sounds so enthusiastic!

Here is what “Top of the morning” means and how you can respond when someone uses this greeting with you:

What Does “Top of The Morning” Mean?

“Top of The Morning”, or “Top o’ The Morning To You” as it’s also said is an expression that comes from Ireland, the UK, and is used in parts of America.

Popularized by Irish-American culture, it means the same as “good morning” and is generally used to greet someone in the morning.

I knew a work colleague whose parents were from Ireland and he used to use this greeting in the morning sometimes.

It kind of became his thing and what he was known for and I’m sure he said it in jest as a way to be friendly, but it was always nice to hear.

When he’d say, “Top of the morning to you, Phil”, I’d usually reply something like, “Same to you, Josh”, or even “Top of the morning back at you, mate”.

It’s really just a way to greet someone good morning or to wish them a good morning.

Related – Here is how to respond to ‘hey trouble!’

How to Respond to “Top of The Morning”?

If someone says, “Top of the morning to you,” the best way to respond is with a similar expression.

For example:

• “Same to you”
• “You too”
• “Same to you and yours”
• “Good morning!”
• “All the best to you and your morning”
• “Thanks, have a good morning”
• “Cheers, good morning to you, too”

It really depends on the context and the tone of voice.

If they are being friendly, you can respond in kind, but if they are being sarcastic or terse, it’s best to respond more respectfully.

It’s also worth noting that this expression isn’t used everywhere or that well known, so make sure you’re aware of what is appropriate in the context in which you are using it.

The “Correct” Way to Respond To “Top of The Morning”

According to various sources, the correct way to reply to “top o’ the mornin to ya” is to say:

“And the rest of the day to you!”

This is what is traditionally said in Ireland when someone greets you with this expression.

It is a good way to respond, as it acknowledges the greeting and lets them know you’re familiar with it while also wishing them well for the rest of their day.

So, if there is a certain someone who greets you with “top of the morning”, you can impress them by using the correct reply next time.

I’m sure that’ll make their morning!

What Are Some Other Ways You Can Wish Someone a Good Morning?

If you want to greet someone with a similar phrase as “top of the morning” you could say something like:

• “Good morning, have a great day!”
• “Happy morning to you!”
• “Good day to you!” (My personal favorite)
• “Wishing you a beautiful morning!”
• “Have a lovely start to the day!”
• “Sending you sunshine and smiles this morning!”

Related – Tips for dealing with people who don’t greet you and how to respond to someone who is projecting on you!

These are just some of the many ways you can wish someone a good morning i f you want to mix things up and keep it interesting.

And, of course, you can always just say “good morning” or “have a great day!” in a friendly tone.

No matter what you choose, a smile and some cheer will go a long way to make someone’s morning just that little bit better.

It’s more about the attitude and vibes you’re giving off than it is the words you use, keep that in mind!

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Image credits – depositphotos.com/stock-photo-friends-greeting-each-other