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Tag Archives: fear

How To Say ‘Doctor’ in Irish (plus ‘physician,’ ‘healer,’ etc.) Posted by on Sep 17, 2018

(le Róislín) Doctor … healer … physician? What’s the difference in Irish? And are some of the terms overlapping? Basics first.   Certainly the word most people learn first for “doctor” in Irish is “dochtúir,” and here are its basic forms: 1.. An dochtúir, the doctor, the physician Mála an dochtúra, the bag of the doctor/physician…

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Men and Christmas, specifically, ‘Fir Shneachta’ and ‘Fir Shinséir’ Posted by on Dec 13, 2015

(le Róislín) OK, so this isn’t really going to be a Men-Are-from-Mars-Women-Are-from-Venus-y exposé of the relationship between men and women around Christmastime.  So we won’t be dealing with “man caves” (*fearuaimheanna, is dócha) or oidhreacht an uaimhigh i sochaí an lae inniu. Instead, we’ll simply look at the Irish words for “snowmen” and “gingerbread men,”…

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Oh, Man! ‘Fear,’ ‘Fir,’ ‘Fhir,’ and ‘bhFear,’ (How to say ‘man’ and ‘men’ in Irish) Posted by on Jan 9, 2014

(le Róislín) Since Nollaig na mBan on January 6th gave us the opportunity to discuss the Irish word for ‘woman,’ we might as well follow up with the word for ‘man.’ First, let me clarify that this blog will discuss ‘man’ (fear) as opposed to woman (bean), not “man” as opposed to the following: plants…

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‘Bean’ or ‘Ban’ or ‘Mná’ or “mBan’: How to Say ‘Woman’ (Women) in Irish (just in time for Nollaig na mBan on 6 January) Posted by on Jan 5, 2014

(le Róislín) As the final day of “dhá lá dhéag na Nollag” (6 Eanáir), we recognize “Nollaig na mBan.”  Many other sites online offer some commentary on the day’s activities, typically with women taking some time off for a relaxing afternoon tea or evening out.  One interesting article, by actress and playwright Sheila Flitton, is…

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‘Caitín’ + ‘Caillte’ + ‘Caoineadh’ = Cén Rud? Posted by on Nov 27, 2013

(le Róislín) De ghnáth éistim le ceol traidisiúnta níos minice ná popcheol ach bhí an scéal seo rótharraingteach le bheith “ag imeacht uaidh.”  Right, well, that’s not exactly the phrase, “to walk away,” but it’s a close Irish equivalent.  For all the possible words in Irish to say “away” (ábhar blag eile?), none of them…

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Declensions, Generally Speaking Posted by on May 30, 2011

(le Róislín) Next time the gnáthmhionchaint grows tedious at some required but understimulating social event, maybe you’d like to liven up the chat by mentioning declensions.  The conversation could have far-reaching implications, like “When is a category a category?” and “When is a category a sub-category?”  If it’s anything like “adamhach” and “fo-adamhach,” sin scéal…

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An Chéad Díochlaonadh: Newts, Frogs, and, for Easter, Baskets Posted by on Apr 8, 2011

(le Róislín) We’ve recently seen a number of first-declension nouns in Irish, with their various forms.  You might have noticed how when we say “hats of men” or “eyes of newts,” the plural form appears to look singular.  In other words, “fear” normally means “a man” but can mean “of men” in the right grammatical…

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