Irish Translation Forum

Yeah sorry people but I can't speak any other language besides English for jack, so bear with me. Oh yeah- and I can't spell so bear with that, too.

Okay, so could someone translate "I never run but fight for my life" for me? It's my motto and I want to give it to my friend so he can design a picture for me. And then there's "I do not accept defeat" and then the single word "warrior". Thanks a whole lot in advance.

warrior = laoch

i can't speak in whole sentances, so bear with me

Wait for a second opinion on this cos I'm not 100% certain of the best way!

I never run but fight for my life.

Ní theithim riamh ach troidim le m' anam.

Now that reads like

I never 'run away' but fight with my life.( Irish regards soul and life as the same).

However O Donaill has

Ran for hs life

as

rith lena anam
i.e literally -ran with his life

So I think the translation is good.

Hang on for other suggestions


(By the way isn't that a nice Irish word- the verb TEITH. It means to run away/flee(generally from a battle/scene of crime!!!)

I do not accept defeat


Again wait for others

I suggest


Ní ghlacaim le díomua.

"Ní ghlacaim le díomua" is good for "I do not accept defeat."

For "I never run but fight for my life" I would rather say:

Ní theithim, ach troidim ar m'anam.

"Riamh" is generally a past-time word, or at least a word signifying completed, past action.

The Irish present tense is a general, characteristic, habitual idea. The simple statement "Ní theithim" contains within it the notion that "I do not run away as a general principle. It is part of my habit and nature not to run away." You really don't need to add an "ever/never" word onto it. If you want to emphasize the fact of not running, then you could add:

"Ní theithim ar chor ar bith..." or "Ní theithim in aon chor..." -- "I do not run away at all..."

As for the notion of "for." I really think "ar" is better. "Rith sé lena anam" suggests, to me, that he ran away "with his life." He ran for his life, and got away WITH his life intact.

I think you can use riamh in the present

Imho all these are valid uses of riamh - with present tense verbs


Mná-ní bhíonn tada ar intinn acu riamh ach ''relationships''


Ní stadann sé riamh

Ní bhíonn sé riamh anseo


The grammar books agree with you maybe- but I have a stronger force on my side. My secret weapon.....

MAMÓ

You are blessed to still be able to ask your Mamó

But then again, I'm not sure if she had much Irish at all - my mom sure doesn't know any :| Thankfully the Moore family recipes have stood as tradition