Irish Translation Forum

Can someone help me differentiate between two concepts in Gaelic? I'm trying to get the most precise translations I can for two words, one is "ever" as in "for ever," the other is "always" as in "for always."

I remembered this place was a huge help to me awhile back, and any further assistance would be greatly appreciated.

I don't really know what your asking here, but i'll try to help

forever is go deo

Even in English, 'ever' by itself doesnt mean the same thing as 'forever' though.
ever would be 'riamh' or 'choíche'
'an bhfaca tú é riamh' = 'did you ever see it'
'an feicfidh mé é choíche?' = will I ever see it?'

always is 'i gcónaí', but I've never heard anyone say 'for always'. I suppose its the same as 'forever'.

Hope that helped

Thanks, that does help. Halfway there already! I guess what I am asking is for two disctinct versions of the same concept, as expressed in the English as "For ever and always," ever contextually being the same as always here, but just a shade different as they're two different words.

Saint Mahone wrote:Thanks, that does help. Halfway there already! I guess what I am asking is for two disctinct versions of the same concept, as expressed in the English as "For ever and always," ever contextually being the same as always here, but just a shade different as they're two different words.

Well, two different words can hold the exact same meaning...
I'm sorry I can't help with anything else, but I am just saying that `always' and `forever' may be different words with different translations, but their meaning is the exact same.

~Adam.

pur3_p3r50n wrote:

Saint Mahone wrote:Thanks, that does help. Halfway there already! I guess what I am asking is for two disctinct versions of the same concept, as expressed in the English as "For ever and always," ever contextually being the same as always here, but just a shade different as they're two different words.

Well, two different words can hold the exact same meaning...
I'm sorry I can't help with anything else, but I am just saying that `always' and `forever' may be different words with different translations, but their meaning is the exact same.

~Adam.

Exactly! And it's those two 'different translations' I'm hoping to get.

Saint Mahone wrote:Thanks, that does help. Halfway there already! I guess what I am asking is for two disctinct versions of the same concept, as expressed in the English as "For ever and always," ever contextually being the same as always here, but just a shade different as they're two different words.

Oh, i see. I read 'For ever and always' as 'forever and always', as in not 'forever and for always', but 'I will be with you all the time(always) and till the end of time(forever)'

that could be translated as 'i gcónaí is go deo' (always and forever), perhaps

To me, "always" means "at all times," and "forever" means "from this point on into the future."

I agree with Murchadha: I gcónaí is always, and go deo is "forever."

oisin718 wrote:To me, "always" means "at all times," and "forever" means "from this point on into the future."

I agree with Murchadha: I gcónaí is always, and go deo is "forever."

You are are great, I really appreciate this.

Now, if you'll forgive my crass ignorance, let me see if I can't pare down and stop me if I get it wrong.

For ever = go deo, so 'ever' on it's own would be 'deo.'

And with I gcónaí... is the g in the beginning a contraction of 'go?' Could you extract 'conai' from the rest and would that on its own mean 'always?'

No no no no. It's not nearly so simple.

"go deo" is one unit. "Deo" doesn't mean anything on its own.

"i gcónaí" is likewise one unit, meaning "always."

"cónaí" actually means "living, dwelling, abiding, residing," and "i g-" is "in."

Things seldom are, eh?

That's settled, then, "go deo" and "i gcónaí" it is!

Thanks again, this was a big help.