Some pronunciation and vocabulary notes for the last blog.

a bheas [uh VAY-uss], that will be (the “ea” here is not pronounced as in “deas” or “meas”)

ar chor ar bith [err khor err bih, or as it usually comes out, spoken rapidly, uh khor uh bih], at all

corn, horn, “cup.”  There are other famous prizes using this term, such as Corn  Uí Riada, for sean-nós singing, and in sports, Corn Liam Mhic Cárthaigh (the Liam McCarthy Cup) for hurling, Corn Uí Dhubhthaigh (the O’Duffy Cup) for camogie, and, for peil ghaelach (Irish football),  Corn Sam (or Somhairle) Mhic Uidhir (the Sam Maguire Cup),  the latter impressively modeled on Cailís Ardach (the Ardagh Chalice, an 8th-century Irish natiaonl teasure

craobh [kreev or krayv], branch, further sports-related meanings are discussed in the actual blog

critheagla [KR^zhIH-AGG-luh], trepidation, from “crith” (shaking) + “eagla” (fear).  I know the “zh” superscript looks confusing, but a simplified explanation of the sound would be a buzzy “r,” like the “r” in the name of the Czech composer, Dvořák.  It’s not a typical sound in English. 

an chritheagla [un HR^zhIH-AGG-luh] the trepidation, lenited because it’s a feminine noun following the definite article

cuinneog [KWIN-yohg], butter-churn.  Now how did that get into an article about soccer/football?  Just as example of how the Irish word “cupán” (cup) does have extended meanings, like cupán cuinneoige, but not in the sense of a sports trophy/cup. 

domhan [DOH-un], world; the name “Dónal,” previously and sometimes still spelled “Domhnall” is based on this word.  Note that for the names, the new spelling simply marks the vowel with a síneadh fada.  In the older spelling, the silent “–mh-“ makes the preceding vowel long. 

domhain [DOH-in] of (a/the) world

geaitín [G^YATCH-een], wicket, but literally, “little gate,” as in “wicket-gate”

grinn, in-depth , used here as a prefix to tuairisc [TOO-ir^zh-ishk], report

lábach [LAW-bukh], muddy, but here, “sticky”

teaghlach [TCHA-lukh], family, here used as an adjective, spelled teaghlaigh [TCHA-lee] since it’s in the tuiseal ginideach

Theas, see below, since the note, with two subnotes, is ridiculously long, but hopefully informative

tréchleas [TR^zhAY-HLASS], hat trick, from tré (a form of the number three) + cleas (trick).  Note the lenition after the prefix.

úrscothach [OOR-SKOH-hukh], state-of-the-art (lit. “new-tufted”).  “Scoth” (flower or tuft) has an extended meaning as “the best of something,” as in “scoth na bhfear” (the best of men).   Oh, and didn’t we just see it a blog or two ago?  Scothóg, little tuft or tassel. 

Theas [HASS] south, as an adjective or adverb, also found in phrases like “Meiriceá Theas,” “an Chóiré Theas,” and “an Cuarbhóthar Theas” (South Circular Road), as well as in the two terms for the South Pole, “an Pol Theas” and “an Mol Theas.”  This is one of the few words in Irish that is “permanently lenited,” i.e. it really begins with “th-,” which otherwise is the result of another seanchara – initial consonant mutation (as in the name “Tomás” changing to “Thomáis” for direct address or to show possession or as in the verb “tóg” changing to “thóg” for the past tense)

Two subnotes for “Theas,” if you will:

a)      It could occasionally look like a completely different word, “theas,” which is the mutated form of the noun “teas” (heat), as in “tnáitheadh ó theas” (exhaustion from heat) or “ar theas bainne na bó” (lit. on the heat of the milk of the cow), which is another way of saying “alabhog” or “patuar” (lukewarm) 

b)      The noun for “the South” is linguistically related, but quite different looking, “an deisceart,” as in “deisceart láir na hÉireann” (south central Ireland) or Deisceart na Baváire (Lower Bavaria).  It occurs frequently in the possessive, as in “Cros an Deiscirt,” the Southern Cross (lit. the cross of the South), or “rac-cheol an deiscirt” (rock music of the south).  I can only assume that the latter refers to the American South, not Cork or Waterford, although how often the likes of the Allman Brothers or the Ozark Mountain Daredevils are actually discussed in Irish is another question.  No reason not to, though!

 Well, that may not be all the words that could possibly be glossed, or “sub-glossed,” from the previous blog, but hopefully, déanfaidh cnapán beag an gnó duit! (a little dab’ll do ya).