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Tag Archives: green

Comhuaineach, Grafaic, Lóistíocht, Próiseáil, Veicteoireach: Some Irish Vocabulary from the Previous Blog Posted by on May 21, 2017

(le Róislín) Most of the time my interest in Irish vocabulary leans more to the traditional, like words for “potato ridges” (iomairí prátaí), dibbers (stibhíní), spinning jennies (sinéidíní), or querns (brónna).  But the most recent blog (nasc thíos) introduced a few more contemporary terms which may relate to occupations and technologies we see today.  In…

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Céard (Cad é / Cad) atá ort?  … air sin?  srl.  (some uses of the word ‘ar’ in Irish) Posted by on Jun 15, 2015

(le Róislín) Lately we’ve been looking at how to say you have red hair or a black beard (and/or mustache and sideburns), using the word “ar” (on).  In previous blog posts, we’ve looked at using “ar” to say you’re ill (“I have a cold”) or how you feel about something, either emotionally (I’m happy) or as…

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10 Ways to Describe “Seamróga” (Shamrocks) in Irish Posted by on Mar 8, 2014

(le Róislín) As we approach Lá Fhéile Pádraig (aka “Lá ‘le Pádraig” and “St. Patrick’s Day”), our thoughts naturally turn to “seamróga” (shamrocks).  How many ways can we think of to describe them?  We’ll try for at least ten in this blog.  Maybe some readers will have some more suggestions. A key thing to remember…

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Droichead na Cónaidhme nó ‘Réise na mBeann Glas’ (Mar a Dúradh) Posted by on Feb 22, 2014

(le Róislín) I couldn’t resist spending a little more time with bridges (droichid) since Canada’s Confederation Bridge has such a clever nickname, as bestowed by …, hmm, which Irish person?  (freagra thíos). Just a quick review of the phrase “Droichead na Cónaidhme,” before we get to the nickname: droichead [DRIH-hud], bridge na [nuh], here it…

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An bhfuil do ghlas crochta crochta agat fós? Posted by on Feb 14, 2014

 (le Róislín) No, that’s not an overlooked duplication of words.  “Glas crochta” is a padlock (hmm, guess why that topic came up in today’s blog!) and “crochta” means “hung” or “hanging,” from the verb “croch” (hang). First let’s discuss the word “glas,” since it’s a triple homonym in Irish.  One “glas” means “green.”   A second…

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Beoir: Uaine nó Glas nó Ceachtar? (Beer: Green/Uaine or Green/Glas or Neither?) Posted by on Mar 22, 2013

(le Róislín) Our last blog primarily covered the actual history of St. Patrick and his name.  This blog will take a lighter-hearted look at some St. Patrick’s Day imagery, namely the much-maligned-but-nevertheless-consumed green beer.   I’m refraining from value judgments on the topic (unlike many of the online commentators!), but am primarily interested in whether people…

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Lá Fhéile Pádraig! Posted by on Mar 12, 2009

(le Róislín) As you might have guessed, the title phrase above means “St. Patrick’s Day,” a good time for launching this “blag nua” (new blog).  Remember that in pronunciation, the “fh” of the word “Fhéile” is completely silent.  For that reason, you sometimes see the phrase written as “Lá ‘Éile Pádraig,” dropping the “fh” entirely. …

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