Archive for April, 2007

Quote:

Here’s a verse from the eleventh century Lebor Gabala (Book of Invasions).

[Irish]=[English]
aintín=aunt
seanmhuintir = grandparents
athair = father
athair altrama = foster father
athair baistí = godfather
athair céile = father in law
athair críonna = grandfather (Munster?)
athair mór = grandfather (Ulster + Munster Irish)
baintreach = widow, widower
baintreach fir = widower
bean chéile = wife
Bráithreachas = Brotherhood
brídeach = bride
cailín coimhdeachta = bridesmaid
cara = friend
cara mná = girlfriend
clann = sept
clann clainne = grandchildren
clann, teaghlach = family
col ceathrar* = first cousin
col cúigear* = first cousin once removed
col ochtar* = third cousin
col seachtar* = second cousin once removed
col seisear* = second cousin
daideo = grandad
deartháir = brother
deirfiúr = sister
dlúthchara = best friend
fear céile = husband
fiancé(e) = fiance
finné = witness
finné fir = best man
gariníon = granddaughter
garmhac = grandson
grúmaeir = groom
iníon = daughter
iníon baistí = god daughter
leanbh baistí = godchild
leannán = lover
leasathair = step father
leasdeartháir = step brother
leasdeirfiúr = step sister
leasiníon = step daughter
leasmhac = step son
leasmháthair = step mother
mac = son
mac baistí = god son
mamó = granny
máthair = mother
máthair altrama = foster mother
máthair baistí = god mother
máthair chéile = mother in law
máthair chríonna = grandmother (Munster?)
namhaid = enemy
seanathair = grandfather (standard)
seanmháthair = grandmother (standard)
sin-seanathair = great grandfather
sin-seanmháthair = great grandmother
stócach = boyfriend
treibh = clan
treibh = tribe
uncail=uncle
*(in all these forms you can also use the genitive case: col ceathair, col cúigir etc)

While the wicked stand confounded,call me with thy saints surrounded
Agus na damnaithe fágtha gan focal
Glaoigh ormsa i measc na naomh

This is how you say how old you are. Let’s start at the age of 13.

This is how to ask for time and tell time to someone in the great language of Gaeilge. (Written at: A cúig déag i ndiaith a sé.)How to Ask for/Tell the Time

Generally, when you describe a person’s appearance, you are talking either about qualities and characteristics that describe them (adjectives) or features that they possess (nouns). Below are some ways to describe people. I hope others will add more.

An Saorbhriathar

In Irish, two types of passive constructions will often be encountered.

Do I aspirate the Autonomous Form of the verb in the Past Tense?

[Continued from A Big If ]

In Irish, if-sentences can be confusing because different types of if-sentences require a different if-word. Let us take the following two English sentences:

In Irish, there are two equivalents to English’s “to be” verb. Those are bí/tá and is.Tá is used when you are expressing something that will most likely change soon. For example:

Conjugated Prepositions

Fifteen of the “simple” Irish prepositions are conjugated for pronoun they refer to. For example, to say “to me,” you can’t just have “do mé.” You use the conjugated form “dom.”

Common mistakes that learners should avoid.
The distinction between masculine and feminine (grammatical gender) is important in Irish. One of the ways it is expressed is through ‘lenition.’