(le Róislín)

As a continuation of the idea of “What I Did on My Summer Vacation,” which we looked at in the last blogpost (nasc thíos), this time we’ll look at saying where you went or where you did the various activities.

So the key phrases we’ll be looking at are:

Cá ndeachaigh tú? [kaw N^yAKH-ee too], Where did you go?

An ndeachaigh tú go (+ placename)? Did you go to ______________?

The second question has a variation, used if the place name includes the word “the.”  In English, relatively few place names include the word “the,” but we do have “The Hague” and “The Vatican.” In Irish, we also include “the” if we’re saying “Rome,” which becomes “An Róimh” (lit. the Rome) and “Athens,” which becomes “An Aithin” (lit. the Athens).  In Irish, many country names also include “the,” such as “An Spáinn” (lit. the Spain) and “An Rúis” (the Russia).   Within Ireland, a fair number of place names include “the,” such as “An Spidéal” (anglicized as “Spiddal,” but literally, something like “the Spiddal”) and “An Cheathrú Rua” (anglicized as “Carraroe” but literally something like “the Carraroe”).

The variation, then, uses “go dtí” instead of just “go” (both for “to”):

An ndeachaigh tú go dtí (+ the + placename)?

This second style can include place names that are inherently plural, such as:

Na Cealla Beaga, Killybegs, which when translated means, “the little cells,” and,

Na Forbacha, Furbo or Furbogh.  For pronouncing this one, remember the “uh” sound between the “r” and the “b” in the Irish: [nuh FOR-uh-buh-khuh].  For the anglicized version, this extra “uh” disappears, at least according to the speaker at “Logainm.ie”  If you listen to him, also notice that the final “o,” isn’t pronounced long, but more like “FOR-buh.”  The “gh” at the end is completely silent.

Now for some examples:

Cá ndeachaigh tú sa samhradh?  Chuaigh mé go Ceanada.

Cá ndeachaigh tú sa samhradh?  Chuaigh mé go dtí an Spáinn.

An ndeachaigh tú go Gaoth Dobhair?  Chuaigh, chuaigh mé go Gaoth Dobhair (or just “Chuaigh.”)

An ndeachaigh tú go dtí an Spidéal?  Chuaigh, chuaigh mé go dtí an Spidéal (or just “Chuaigh.”)

An ndeachaigh tú go dtí na Cealla Beaga?  Chuaigh, chuaigh mé go dtí na Cealla Beaga (or just “Chuaigh”)

Remember, Irish has no across-the-board word for “yes” or “no,” so to answer the question “Did you go to X?,” you are literally answering “chuaigh” (went)” not “yes,” as such.

Champing at the bit for some negatives (No, I didn’t …)?  Let’s save that for the next blogpost, in the interests of time and blogspace.

Now let’s take those questions from the last blog and add some place names if they didn’t have them before:

1. An ndeachaigh tú go Ceanada?
2. An ndeachaigh tú go Rio chun na Cluichí Oilimpeacha a fheiceáil? [that question can stay as is from last time]
3. An ndeachaigh tú go dtí an Trá Gheal?
4. An ndeachaigh tú ag cnocadóireacht sna Sléibhte Pennine Theas? Hmm, well, OK, cnocadóireacht technically means “hill-walking,” which would fit the English phrase “Pennine Hills.” In Irish, however, they’re referred to as “sléibhte” (mountains), but, double-checking, their height is less than 3,000 feet, which I believe makes them, technically, hills.  Or vernacularly, fells. But that debate, informed by the movie “The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill and Came a Mountain,” will have to wait for another blogpost.  Any thoughts — uaibhse?
5. An ndeachaigh sibh go dtí an Pháirc Lárnach i Nua-Eabhrac le picnic a bheith agat?
6. An ndeachaigh tú go Loch Superior le bheith ag snámh i gceann de na lochanna is fuaire ar domhain? Cén teocht? Bhuel, in July , 2012, it was one of the warmest seasons on record, described by “climatecentral” (nasc thíos) as a “bracing 68 degrees” (Fahrenheit).   The ideal temperature, at least for swimming pools (linnte snámha), in contrast, is 85 degrees, according to “americanpool.com” (nasc thíos.)
7. Ar léigh tú _Cogadh agus Síocháin_ le Leo Tolstoy agus tú i do shuí ar Thrá Rehoboth i nDelaware? I do shuí ansin ar feadh míosa gan rud ar bith eile le déanamh agat, b’fhéidir — tá an t-úrscéal chomh fada sin! (As I said before, that’s not to imply that there actually is an Irish translation available. Fad m’eolais níl a leithéid le fáil fós.).
8. An ndeachaigh tú go Maui le bheith ag surfáil eitleoige?
9. An ndeachaigh tú Lac Bay, Bonaire (i Muir Chairib) le bheith ag gaothshurfáil?
10. An ndeachaigh tú go dtí na Twin Cities le freastal ar an bhFéile Físeán Idirlín Cat ar an 9ú lá de mhí Lúnasa i 2016. (Nasc don fhéile thíos): How to say “Internet Cat Video Festival” in Irish (i nGaeilge) Posted by róislínon Nov 7, 2014 in Irish Language)

Any answers you’d like to submit or other descriptions of your summer vacation welcome.

SGF — Róislín
Nasc don bhlagmhír roimhe seo: Deireadh an tSamhraidh: Which of these 10 summer activities did you do this year? Posted by róislín on Aug 23, 2016 in Irish Language
Naisc bhreise:

http://www.climatecentral.org/news/great-lakes-water-temperatures-at-record-levels, july 25, 2012

http://www.americanpool.com/2015/06/whats-right-temperature-pool/#.V8lKNfkrKM8, by Mitch Friedlander, June 1, 2015

How to say “Internet Cat Video Festival” in Irish (i nGaeilge)Posted by róislín on Nov 7, 2014 in Irish Language)