Irish Language Blog
Menu
Search

Tag Archives: blianta

How many ways can we say ‘bliain’ (year) in Irish, including ‘athbhliain’? Posted by on Jan 11, 2016

(le Róislín) As we settle into the new year (an bhliain nua, an bhliain úr, an athbhliain, srl.), let’s think of how many ways we can say and use the word ‘year’ in Irish. Most recently, you’ve probably seen the phrase “Athbhliain faoi shéan is faoi mhaise” (A happy and prosperous New Year). But let’s look…

Continue Reading

Dhá Ainmhí Dhéag, Dhá Bhliain Déag, agus Cén Fhoirm den Alt? Posted by on Jan 27, 2014

(le Róislín) Seo (2014) Bliain an Chapaill de réir fhéilire na Síneach.  Agus cad faoi na blianta eile?  Agus na hainmhithe a bhaineanns leo?  So we’ve all heard that this (2014) is the Year of the Horse (Bliain an Chapaill) in the Chinese calendar.  But how would we say the other eleven Chinese years in…

Continue Reading

Years, Ears, and Donkeys in Irish (Bhuel, Not Really Donkeys!) Posted by on Jan 25, 2014

(le Róislín) This time in January, in between the western New Year (1 Eanáir) and Chinese New Year (31 Eanáir i 2014) seems like a good time to look again at the word “bliain” (year) in Irish (nasc thíos do bhlag eile faoi seo).  In this blog, we’ll look at the basic forms of the…

Continue Reading

New Year’s – Celtic Style (1 Mí na Samhna in ionad 1 Eanáir) Posted by on Oct 31, 2012

(le Róislín) While January 1 is widely considered to be “New Year’s Day” in many parts of the world, including Ireland, there is/was a Celtic concept of the New Year that placed the holiday much earlier in the winter season, specifically on November 1. I say “is/was” quite deliberately.  Considering “an t-aonú lá de mhí…

Continue Reading

Blianta Go Leor — Years Galore, Except the Donkey’s! Posted by on Jun 29, 2009

(le Róislín) You may have noticed Transparent’s recent Word of the Day, bliain (year) or an bhliain (the year).  Care to guess how many forms of this word are in common use? Well, there’s the lenited form (an bhliain), the special form used after the numbers 3, 4, 5, and 6 (bliana), the eclipsed “special”…

Continue Reading