Tag Archives: gender
Úsáid an fhocail “Eircode” i gcomhthéacs Gaeilge Posted by róislín on Jul 24, 2015
(le Róislín) So we’ve all been inundated lately with news of “lainseáil an chórais Eircode,” which could also be called “seoladh an chórais Eircode.” Both phrases mean “the launching of the Eircode system.” But, as happened with the launching of the “euro,” umpteen years ago, one of my first thoughts was, how do we use…
Chinese New Year in Irish: Cén tAinmhí (which animal) do 2015? Posted by róislín on Feb 18, 2015
(le Róislín) Bliain Nua na Síneach agus Parthas na nGramadóirí. Chinese New Year and this year, 2015, a grammarian’s paradise. Cén fáth? Why? Because unlike previous years, 2015 offers us two, perhaps even three, animals as the symbol for the year. But choosing between animals would mostly be vocabulary, not grammar, right? Like “sheep” vs…
Cailíní — firinscneach? Staileanna — baininscneach? Go figure! Posted by róislín on Nov 30, 2012
(le Róislín) Very early on in learning Irish, most people see phrases like “an capall” (the horse) and “an bhó” (the cow). Or “an seomra” (the room) and “an chistin” (the kitchen). Then, somewhere along the way, we learn that the basic form of “cow” is “bó” (not “bhó“) and that the basic form of…
Laethanta na Seachtaine (Days of the Week, in Irish, with pronunciation) Posted by róislín on Sep 24, 2011
(le Róislín) And one more féilire-related topic: laethanta na seachtaine. Which could also be called “laethe na seachtaine.” Both plural forms of “lá” are widely used, “laethanta” and “laethe.” You’ve already noticed the use of “an tuiseal ginideach” in this phrase, right? That accounts for the “-e” ending to the word “seachtain.” Since we’re saying…
Cúpla Caife Gaelach, Dhá Chaife Ghaelacha (A Couple of Irish Coffees vs. Two Irish Coffees) Posted by róislín on Aug 20, 2011
(le Róislín) Lenition, another lenition, and a plural ending. That’s the difference that happens when we say “two Irish coffees” as opposed to “a couple of Irish coffees.” So how does that work? As we discussed in the last blog, the Irish word “cúpla” is followed by the singular form of the noun (unlike English…
Cineálacha Stoirmeacha (Kinds of Storms) Posted by róislín on Sep 3, 2010
Last blog we discussed hairicíní, for which the Irish word is an adaptation of either the Carib for “God of Evil” or the name of a Mayan storm god, Hurakan – the sources for this don’t agree on which. Either way, the word went through a couple of filters before reaching Irish, namely Spanish “huracán”…
Téarmaí Nollag gan an Focal “Nollaig” – Cána Candaí, Bleathach Uibhe, agus Fíoracha Sinséir Posted by róislín on Dec 30, 2009
(le Róislín) Seo roinnt téarmaí faoin Nollaig nach bhfuil an focal “Nollaig” féin iontu (some Christmasy terms that don’t have the word “Christmas” itself in them): an cána candaí, the candy cane an bhleathach uibhe, the eggnog or the egg-flip. ”Bleathach” normally means “grist” or “oat-meal cake.” Add “uibhe,” the possessive form of “ubh” (egg)…