Tag Archives: Daidí na Nollag
Beirt Naomh Mhí na Feabhra: Naomh Bríd agus San Vailintín Posted by róislín on Feb 3, 2014
(le Róislín) Irish has two words for “saint.” I wonder if any other language is similar in this regard, but for now, we’ll just look at the two Irish words, “naomh” and “san.” For most purposes, they are not interchangeable. February celebrates both “Naomh Bríd” and “San Vailintín,” so let’s look at why they have…
Nollaig nó Nollag (How To Say ‘Christmas’ or ‘of Christmas’ in Irish) Posted by róislín on Dec 24, 2013
(le Róislín) As Christmas approaches, you might be wondering why there’s such a constant variation of whether to say “Nollaig” or “Nollag,” and in a similar vein, “An Nollaig” or “na Nollag.” First, the basic answer, and then some examples. And before that, a pronunciation pointer. What is the difference in sound between “Nollaig” and…
Laethanta na Seachtaine (Days of the Week, in Irish, with pronunciation) Posted by róislín on Sep 24, 2011
(le Róislín) And one more féilire-related topic: laethanta na seachtaine. Which could also be called “laethe na seachtaine.” Both plural forms of “lá” are widely used, “laethanta” and “laethe.” You’ve already noticed the use of “an tuiseal ginideach” in this phrase, right? That accounts for the “-e” ending to the word “seachtain.” Since we’re saying…
Daidí nó Athair (na Nollag) Posted by róislín on Dec 16, 2010
We recently addressed the “happy” vs. “merry” distinction for Christmas greetings, discussing the use of “sona” (or shona), faoi shéan and faoi mhaise, as well as non-Christmas terms translated as “happy,” like dea-, or which may function like “happy” lie “beannachtaí” (lit. blessing). Some day we’ll deal with a slew of other “happy” words, like…
Happy vs. Merry and All That! (Sona, Meidhreach, srl.) Posted by róislín on Dec 12, 2010
(le Róislín) ‘S é an séasúr é! ‘Tis the season! So let’s do a little holiday terminology. Some of these phrases are quite well known but all are interesting when looked at from a translator’s perspective. Nollaig Shona! or to be more specific “Nollaig Shona dhuit!” (to one person) or “Nollaig Shona dhaoibh! (plural). Or…
Téarmaí Nollag: Nollaig Shona duit! Nollaig Shona daoibh! srl. Posted by róislín on Dec 24, 2009
(le Róislín) Here are some of the basic terms for this holiday season: Oíche Nollag, Christmas Eve, but Oíche Lá Nollag, the night of Christmas Day An Nollaig, Christmas (note the use of the definite article, “the” Christmas) Lá Nollag, Christmas Day Nóta 1: Irish doesn’t really have a separate word for “eve” to distinguish “the…