Irish Translation Forum

Hi!

I learned a beautiful lullaby this weekend, but I am having problems translating 2 of the words. My daughters would love to know what I'm singing in English.

Seoithín, seothó, seothó mo leanbh…
seothó mo leanbh, mo leanbh beag bán

Seoithín, seothó, seoithín, seothó…
seoithín, seothó, mo leanbh beag bán

The bold is what I'm having problems with.

Help is many times thanked!

I'm not sure how to edit, but I do believe this is Irish Gaelic, if that helps.

Seoithín means a soft, whispering sound - i.e. seoithín seó = lullaby

I'm not sure about the other word, but perhaps it is related somehow.

David

P.S. When you view your post, there is an "edit" button at the top right that you can use to edit it.

I really had the feeling that it would sound much more beautiful in Gaelic than in English.

Now I'm positive it does!

However, curious 5 and 3-year-old minds need to know!

Brigids_Mom wrote:Hi!

I learned a beautiful lullaby this weekend, but I am having problems translating 2 of the words. My daughters would love to know what I'm singing in English.

Seoithín, seothó, seothó mo leanbh…
seothó mo leanbh, mo leanbh beag bán

Seoithín, seothó, seoithín, seothó…
seoithín, seothó, mo leanbh beag bán

The bold is what I'm having problems with.

Help is many times thanked!

I can't find "Seoithín" in my dictionary, but assuming wdsci's correct, I'm guessing that they're going for something similar to the "lullay, lulla" bits of English lullabyes. If so, for those inquiring little minds, maybe...

Softly, silently, softly my darling,
Softly my baby, my dear little one

Would be a reasonable English rendition.

Redwolf

I can't find "Seoithín" in my dictionary, but assuming wdsci's correct, I'm guessing that they're going for something similar to the "lullay, lulla" bits of English lullabyes. If so, for those inquiring little minds, maybe...

Softly, silently, softly my darling,
Softly my baby, my dear little one

Would be a reasonable English rendition.

I was told taht the other reasonable translation for "mo leanbh beag bán" is "my fair little baby", but again, that could be a regional thing from what I understand. The band I learned it from sings traditionals from the Irish, Cornish, Bretons, Manx, Welsh and Scottish.

And thank you! Something to tell my language-absorbing children!

Brigids_Mom wrote:

I can't find "Seoithín" in my dictionary, but assuming wdsci's correct, I'm guessing that they're going for something similar to the "lullay, lulla" bits of English lullabyes. If so, for those inquiring little minds, maybe...

Softly, silently, softly my darling,
Softly my baby, my dear little one

Would be a reasonable English rendition.

I was told taht the other reasonable translation for "mo leanbh beag bán" is "my fair little baby", but again, that could be a regional thing from what I understand. The band I learned it from sings traditionals from the Irish, Cornish, Bretons, Manx, Welsh and Scottish.

And thank you! Something to tell my language-absorbing children!

Yes, it does mean that, but that's also very literal. I was trying to make it scan so you can sing it. "A leanbh" is also used to mean "sweetie," or "darling," and "bán" does mean "white/fair," but is also used poetically to mean "dear" or "precious."

Redwolf

Ahhhhh......I see!

Unfortunatly, the literal vs. more poetic translating parts of languages has always been a problem for me. The bane of my college-level French experiance, to be exact.

My daughters are already trying to sing the song. As my 3 year old speaks in garbled English as it is, it's funny to hear her trying to get her mouth around the Irish.

Brigids_Mom wrote:Ahhhhh......I see!

Unfortunatly, the literal vs. more poetic translating parts of languages has always been a problem for me. The bane of my college-level French experiance, to be exact.

My daughters are already trying to sing the song. As my 3 year old speaks in garbled English as it is, it's funny to hear her trying to get her mouth around the Irish.

I'd love to hear the tune for it. Is it on-line anywhere?

Redwolf

The title is "Seoithín, Seothó". I learned it from a band called Navan - an Irish-speaking band out of Madison, WI. It's on their CD titled "Mairneas". http://www.navan.org/

If you go to the website, click on "the music" Click on the CD title and then the music should load itself onto your computer. It is the last track "Navan2-14". If the titles don't come up for you (they didn't for me when I tested it), I can post or email you a list of the tracks. I only have their 2nd CD, not the first.

edit - you can't get the full versions of the songs off the website. However, "Seoithín, Seothó" does play for about 2 minutes and it's a 4 minute song. It's a repetitive chant, so you're not missing anything by only hearing 1/2 the song.