Tag Archives: proverb
How To Say ‘Doctor’ in Irish (plus ‘physician,’ ‘healer,’ etc.) Posted by róislín 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…
An Lorg sa Sneachta (The Track in the Snow): Snow Angels and More in Irish Posted by róislín on Nov 30, 2017
(le Róislín) This may be the time of year when adults (daoine fásta) and children (páistí) alike enjoy making snow angels (aingil shneachta). I haven’t found the term “aingeal sneachta” in an Irish dictionary so far, but it seems to be quite a straightforward combination. And I did find one (just one!) hit for the…
On The Pig’s Back vs. On the (implied) Hog’s Back: An Irish Expression Exegetically Examined Posted by róislín on Aug 31, 2016
(le Róislín) A recent query about the Irish expression “on the pig’s back” prompted me to go back to the original blogpost on that topic in this series (nasc thíos, agus GRMA, a Jacqueline). Apparently over the years (and long before the beginning of this blog in 2009), many people have wondered whether the Irish…
Droichead na Cónaidhme nó ‘Réise na mBeann Glas’ (Mar a Dúradh) Posted by róislín on Feb 22, 2014
(le Róislín) I couldn’t resist spending a little more time with bridges (droichid) since Canada’s Confederation Bridge has such a clever nickname, as bestowed by …, hmm, which Irish person? (freagra thíos). Just a quick review of the phrase “Droichead na Cónaidhme,” before we get to the nickname: droichead [DRIH-hud], bridge na [nuh], here it…
Cé Mhéad Lá? Cé Mhéad Paorach? Posted by róislín on May 11, 2012
(le Róislín) A recent blog in this series on figurative speech in Irish mentioned “na laethanta go léir a bhí ag na Paoraigh.” Some of you probably recognized this as a reference to the well-known seanfhocal (proverb): Beidh lá eile ag an bPaorach (Mr. Power will have another day). So how does this seanfhocal break…
An Briathar “Gráigh!” (Love!) i nGaeilge Posted by róislín on Feb 14, 2011
(le Róislín) The more I look into it, the more unusual features this verb seems to have. Interesting, and a bit complex, especially because of overlapping forms and near homonyms that are actually antonyms. Good news? It’s not used nearly as much as the forms we’ve recently gone over, especially “Mo ghrá thú.” So if you…
Dóigheanna le “I Love You!” a Rá i nGaeilge: Let Me Count the Ways! Posted by róislín on Feb 12, 2011
(le Róislín) Many languages, perhaps most, have numerous ways to say “I love you!” and Irish is no exception. But, compared to other languages, Irish may be somewhat unusual in not really using the verb “to love,” as such, as much as it uses noun phrases. Examples would include calling the object of your affection…