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Tag Archives: searrach

How many ways can we say ‘bliain’ (year) in Irish, including ‘athbhliain’? Posted by on Jan 11, 2016

(le Róislín) As we settle into the new year (an bhliain nua, an bhliain úr, an athbhliain, srl.), let’s think of how many ways we can say and use the word ‘year’ in Irish. Most recently, you’ve probably seen the phrase “Athbhliain faoi shéan is faoi mhaise” (A happy and prosperous New Year). But let’s look…

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Maidir le hAsail (agus Láracha agus Miúileanna) agus Díochlaontaí Posted by on Aug 31, 2012

(le Róislín) Before we proceed further with such topics as tearmainn asal and seitreach (an fhuaim a dhéanann capaill), let’s take a look at a few more basic vocabulary words for ceathairchosaigh eachaí.  And, to really revisit an ábhar from the past, let’s pick one from each declension.  Remember the díochlaontaí (categories of nouns), from 1st to 5th?   Our equine terms just happen to fill…

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Cialla an Fhocail “Log” (hollow, place, hollow place, etc.) Posted by on Aug 28, 2012

(le Róislín) In the last blog, we looked at terms for various types of horses (stail, láir, bromach, cliobóg, searrach, srl.) and at different ways to describe them, including the Irish for “sway-backed horse” (capall a bhfuil log sa droim aige / aici).  The word “log” in that phrase actually has many other interesting applications…

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Ón Searrach go dtí an Staigín — and my last excuse for “Slán Go Foal” Posted by on Aug 25, 2012

(le Róislín) As promised in the last posting, this blog will discuss the terms for the life cycle and various types of horse.  Most prominent, of course, is “capall,” but, as previous blaganna have hinted, there are téarmaí go leor to use according to comhthéacs (liteartha, srl.), aois and gnéas of the horse, and geographic…

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When Is Something “Horse” Not Something “Horse” (Téarmaí mar “Raidis Fhiáin,” srl.) Posted by on Aug 22, 2012

(le Róislín) In the last blog, discussing the “Horse Latitudes” (Criosanna na gCalm), we also briefly addressed the “horselessness” of the Irish term “raidis fhiáin” (horse-radish) and the inclusion of the word “horse” in the term “cnónna capaill” (horse-chestnuts).  Neither the radishes nor the chestnuts  really involve actual horses, even though “cnónna capaill” refers to…

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