Tag Archives: mban
Men and Christmas, specifically, ‘Fir Shneachta’ and ‘Fir Shinséir’ Posted by róislín 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,”…
‘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 róislín 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…
What’s the “Tuiseal” of “an Tuiseal Ginideach” Anyway? Posted by róislín on Apr 5, 2011
(le Róislín) By now, you’ve probably heard the term “tuiseal” quite a bit in discussing Irish nouns. It’s generally translated as “case” as in “an tuiseal gairmeach” (“a Shinéad” for “Sinéad” in the “vocative” case) or as in “an tuiseal ginideach” (“cóta Sheáin” for “John’s coat” in the “genitive” case), etc. Of course, this isn’t…
Na hUimhreacha Pearsanta (ar leanúint) Posted by róislín on Jan 10, 2011
(le Róislín) Cailín? Chailín? Cailíní? Chailíní? Mac? Mhac? Mic? Mhic? So what’s all that about, and what does it have to do with the “personal numbers” in Irish? What you just read is a sequence of four different forms of the word for “girl” (cailín) and the word for “son” (mac). In each case, the…