Archive for 'Irish Language'
Comhaireamh Síos Lá an Altaithe Posted by róislín on Nov 18, 2012
(le Róislín) In previous Thanksgiving blogs, we’ve counted turcaithe and puimcíní. This time, let’s count some favorite foods eaten on Lá an Altaithe i Meiriceá and some of the accessories used to cook or serve them. True, a multitude of turkey basters and lacers in one place might sound rather, well, awesome, but it’s all…
An tAonú hUair Déag, An tAonú Lá Déag, an tAonú Mí Déag (11th Hour, 11th Day, 11th Month) Posted by róislín on Nov 11, 2012
(le Róislín) We recently saw a video giving the pronunciation for counting from 1 to 20 in Irish (https://blogs.transparent.com/irish/irish-numbers-1-20-with-video/ OR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-t5NzoxdfE). In November, many countries recognize an t-aonú lá déag (the 11th day) as a day to remember iarbhaill na bhfórsaí armtha (veterans of the armed forces). Even more specifically, a nóiméad ciúnais or some other…
New Year’s – Celtic Style (1 Mí na Samhna in ionad 1 Eanáir) Posted by róislín on Oct 31, 2012
(le Róislín) While January 1 is widely considered to be “New Year’s Day” in many parts of the world, including Ireland, there is/was a Celtic concept of the New Year that placed the holiday much earlier in the winter season, specifically on November 1. I say “is/was” quite deliberately. Considering “an t-aonú lá de mhí…
Uachtarán: The Irish Word for “President” (uachtar, “upper portion, cream” + -án, a suffix) Posted by róislín on Oct 28, 2012
(le Róislín) I guess that “teideal an bhlag seo” pretty much explains the Irish word for president, “uachtarán” [OO-ukh-tar-awn]. “Uachtar” [OO-ukh-tar] actually means “upper portion,” widely used today to mean “cream” (as in “uachtar reoite,” ice-cream). That is, of course a throwback to the days before homaiginiú, when the cream rose to the top of…
Sárstoirm, Meigeastoirm, Ollstoirm (Superstorm, Megastorm, Great Storm) Posted by róislín on Oct 25, 2012
(le Róislín) Several different words have been used to describe Hairicín Sandy (aka Spéirling Sandy). Most of them involve the use of prefixes, although the term “stoirm fhoirfe” [STIRzh-im IRzh-fuh] could also be used. “Stoirm fhoirfe,” is the Irish for “a perfect storm,” a term popularized (in English) by author Sebastian Junger in his 1997…
Cineálacha Stoirmeacha (Kinds of Storms): An Scéal Leantach (The Sequel) Posted by róislín on Oct 21, 2012
(le Róislín) Kind of has a nice beat, doesn’t it? Cineálacha Stoirmeacha [KIN-yawl-ukh-uh STIRzh-im-ukh-uh]. Storms are possible any time of year, of course, but the month of October can see several types. Stoirmeacha sneachta, mar a bhí ar chósta thiar na Stát Aontaithe i mí Dheireadh Fómhair (go luath don séasúr!) sa bhliain 2011 —…
Puimcín Amháin, Dhá Phuimcín, Trí Phuimcín, Ollphuimcín … Puimcíní Go Leor (One Pumpkin … Pumpkins Galore, and the Great Pumpkin too) Posted by róislín on Oct 18, 2012
(le Róislín) More counting practice, this time, le bheith tráthúil, le puimcíní. First a quick review of the basic set-up for counting objects in Irish: the word for “one” follows the noun, other numbers come before the noun, two through six cause lenition (here, “p” becoming “ph”), and seven through ten cause eclipsis (here, “p”…