Archive for June, 2009
Blianta Go Leor — Years Galore, Except the Donkey’s! Posted by róislín 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”…
Tuilleadh Téarmaí Bia – More Food Terms in Irish Posted by róislín on Jun 26, 2009
Here are a few of the traditional dishes, and a few not so traditional Arán donn: brown bread. An maith leat arán donn? Do you like brown bread? Arán sóide: soda bread. An ndearna tú féin an t-arán sóide seo? Tá sé an-bhlasta! Did you yourself make this soda bread. It’s very tasty!…
A Práta by Any Other Name: Téarmaí Bia agus Cócaireachta (Food and Cooking Terms) Posted by róislín on Jun 23, 2009
(le Róislín) What better place to begin a discussion of Irish cuisine than with the potato? Still one of the príomhbhianna (staple foods) of Ireland, potatoes may be served in two or even three different ways in one béile (meal). Typical styles of preparation would include: prátaí bruite or beirithe (boiled), prátaí friochta (fried), and…
Téarmaí Ginealeolaíochta: Genealogical Terms in Irish Posted by róislín on Jun 20, 2009
Are you working ar do chraobh ghinealaigh (on your family tree)? Are you interested i nginealeolaíocht (in genealogy)? If so, these terms could be useful. They are shown as vocabulary items and with sample phrases or questions. ainm (name): Cén t-ainm atá ort? What’s your name? sloinne (surname): Cén sloinne atá ort? What’s…
An Bhfuil Ceol Agat? An Seinneann Tú an tAltsacsafón … an Xileafón? Posted by róislín on Jun 17, 2009
(le Róislín) There are several ways to ask in Irish if someone plays music. Probably the most general is “An bhfuil ceol agat?” This literally means “Is there music at you” and refers to playing or singing. The construction where an activity is “at you” is widely used to ask about skills or abilities. Some more…
Cén Sórt Ceoil Is Fearr Leat? What Kind of Music Do You Like Best? Posted by róislín on Jun 14, 2009
Cén Sórt Ceoil Is Fearr Leat? What Kind of Music Do You Like Best? First let’s try some even more basic phrases: Is maith liom rac-cheol. I like rock music. [for “maith,” say: mah, the “t” is silent] Ní maith liom rac-cheol. I don’t like rock music. (Remember that breathy “ch”…
Rac-cheol, Punc-cheol, Popcheol, Snagcheol, and My Favorite Standby, Ceol Traidisiúnta! (not to mention Rac-cheol Sícideileach, Rac-cheol an Deiscirt, Ceol Gangsta, Ceol Gaspal, Ceol Rithim agus Gormacha) Posted by róislín on Jun 11, 2009
You may have figured out the Irish word “ceol,” or its variant, “cheol,” from the title. Of course, you may have already seen it, perhaps in pubs signs advertising “ceol agus craic.” You might have wondered why, knowing my addiction to fleiscíní (hyphens), in their proper place, I carefully put in the…