Tag Archives: bean
‘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…
Is Éan É! Is Eitleán É! Ní Hea — Dreige Atá Ann! (Sorry, Clark!) Posted by róislín on Feb 16, 2013
(le Róislín) Or should that be “dreigít“? Or “dreigeoideach“? Bhuel, all three really, I guess, depending on what stage of the event you’re talking about. I thought I had learned all that téarmaíocht réalteolaíoch, at least the buntéarmaí, years ago, but when the news reports start coming in about the Chelyabinsk event, I realized I…
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…
Maidir le Succotash (Cuid a Dó) Posted by róislín on Nov 29, 2010
(le Róislín) We recently finished a discussion of pónairí móra (líoma, as in “lima”) as a comhábhar for succotash. Now here’s corn, the second major ingredient. That’s “corn” in the U.S. sense. The word “corn” in Irish and UK English usually means “edible grain” in general, NOT specifically maize or sweet corn. In Irish, “arbhar” (corn…
More Irish Pronunciation Notes: Broad and Slender “B” Sounds Posted by róislín on Aug 17, 2010
Getting back to the pronunciation series that was started a few blogs ago, there are a few more points I’d like to add. As I said before, what I’m doing here is primarily explaining the transcription system that I use, not attempting to account for every possible sound or variation of a sound in Irish…
Logainmneacha Ceilteacha agus Náisiúntachtaí a hAon: Celtic Place Names and Nationalities – Scotland and the Scots Posted by róislín on Apr 15, 2009
We recently saw “Albain” (Scotland) as one of Transparent Language’s Word of the Day features. This is based on the word “Alba,” which is what the Scots call their country in their own Celtic language, Gàidhlig. Why not a word that sounds something like “Scotland” (like Italian “Scòzia” or French “Ecosse” or German “Schottland”)? …