Irish Translation Forum

If anyone could help me I would really appreciate it. I've tried to figure this out on my own but as it is going to be inscribed I really need it to be correct:

Some people have fairy godmothers but I have an angel


Thanks

Unfortunately, "fairy godmother" doesn't translate well into Irish. The concept doesn't exist in Irish folklore, so you'd be forced to use a phrase like "máthair bhaistí shíogach," which looks pretty ugly for an inscription. Unless anyone else can think of something somewhat equivalent to a "fairy godmother?"?

Tá máithreacha baistí síogacha ag daoine éigin, ach tá aingeal agamsa.

"Símháthair Bhaistí"

Dunno if that would do. Even if it didn't exist in Irish language folklore, there is definately a need for such a term as Irish children are as familiar with the classic European folktales as anyone. Irish language pantomimes have been using them as a basis for productions for generations so there must be an equivalent.

So?

Re: "Fairy godmother": Dea-mháthair síog (Jae wa:her shee:ohg / Good mother fairy") as in Cinderella etc. best expresses the concept. However as Oisin in effect said, Irish really has no bona fide word for "fairy godmother." Greek and Latin were limited languages too and would have had no word for it.

A Dhia na bhFlaitheas! D'aontaigh sé liom!

misci918 wrote:If anyone could help me I would really appreciate it. I've tried to figure this out on my own but as it is going to be inscribed I really need it to be correct:

Some people have fairy godmothers but I have an angel


Thanks

misci, would it be be possible that you could pick another word....as you can see fairy godmother is abit of week spot for us!!!

Símháthair Bhaistí looks fine to me.

From the Irish folktale “The Knockfierna Hare”

Then the girl spoke in Gaelic "Thank you" she said "for breaking the cruel spell that bound me. I am the daughter of a king and this is my fairy godmother".

I wonder how she did say it in Gaelic.

There has to be an Irish version even if it isn’t a straightforward translation. We just don’t happen to know what it is.

I can’t see anything wrong either with Brian’s translation.