Irish Translation Forum

I named my hamster a while ago with what I thought was an Irish-Gaelic name, but now I am wondering...
Her name is Leánnan, and I have been pronouncing it Lee-AHW-nun. Anybody want to guess what I was giong for here, and I'll see if I was close?
Blessed Be.
Lisa Reynolds
(Athamegirl)

Leannán means lover or companion

It's actually Leannán, the fada was on the wrong vowel, and it's pronounced LYUH-nawn, you were very close!!

Athamegirl wrote:I named my hamster a while ago with what I thought was an Irish-Gaelic name, but now I am wondering...
Her name is Leánnan, and I have been pronouncing it Lee-AHW-nun. Anybody want to guess what I was giong for here, and I'll see if I was close?
Blessed Be.
Lisa Reynolds
(Athamegirl)

Leannán
LyAH-nawn
the 'L' is slender, which adds a fleeting 'y' sound

see here for examples of slender 'L':
http://www.fiosfeasa.com/bearla/language/sounds/lii.aif
http://www.fiosfeasa.com/bearla/language/sounds/leabhair.aif

Méabh wrote:Leannán means lover or companion

My dictionary gives 'sweetheart' and 'chronic sickness' as well (although I'm sure you didn't call it that.)

Cymro-Breatnach wrote:

Méabh wrote:Leannán means lover or companion

My dictionary gives 'sweetheart' and 'chronic sickness' as well (although I'm sure you didn't call it that.)

well companion as in wife and chronic sickness aren't that different in essence. i'm not married, but that's what the Blue Collar Comedy guys have said. [as i dig meself into a deeper hole]

Ok, well companion is good I guess. It was told to me by someone (I can't remember who, or I'd call them and laugh) that it meant sweetheart. When I first got her, I called her sweetpea, but my other pet was getting confused because I call her sweetpea too. And I wasn't able to find 'sweet pea' in the English-Irish dictionary I had. So I went with what I thought was sweetheart.
Hee hee, lover, hee hee.
So what would be the difference in the meanings with the fada over the first a?
Blessed Be.
Lisa Reynolds
(Athamegirl)

Athamegirl wrote:Ok, well companion is good I guess. It was told to me by someone (I can't remember who, or I'd call them and laugh) that it meant sweetheart. When I first got her, I called her sweetpea, but my other pet was getting confused because I call her sweetpea too. And I wasn't able to find 'sweet pea' in the English-Irish dictionary I had. So I went with what I thought was sweetheart.
Hee hee, lover, hee hee.
So what would be the difference in the meanings with the fada over the first a?
Blessed Be.
Lisa Reynolds
(Athamegirl)

an incorrect spelling.

Athamegirl wrote:Ok, well companion is good I guess. It was told to me by someone (I can't remember who, or I'd call them and laugh) that it meant sweetheart. When I first got her, I called her sweetpea, but my other pet was getting confused because I call her sweetpea too. And I wasn't able to find 'sweet pea' in the English-Irish dictionary I had. So I went with what I thought was sweetheart.
Hee hee, lover, hee hee.
So what would be the difference in the meanings with the fada over the first a?
Blessed Be.
Lisa Reynolds
(Athamegirl)

It doesn't mean anything with the fada over the first "a."

For "sweetheart" you'd want something like "a mhuirnín" or "a chroí."

If you wanted something like "sweetpea" (as in the flower), it's "pis chumhra"

Redwolf

So sweet heart is right? That's a relief! Thank you! I wonder why chronic sickness is in there? Being in love is chronic sickness maybe?
Thanks again everyone!
Blessed Be.
Lisa Reynolds
(Athamegirl)