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Tag Archives: súgach

Frásaí an tSéasúir (Seasonal Phrases) in Irish: ‘Sona’ or not ‘Sona’? (‘happy’ or not ‘happy’?) Posted by on Nov 30, 2019

(le Róislín, taking a short break from the “Nature Words” series, in honor of the season) ‘Tis the season where we go around wishing people ‘Happy’ (‘sona‘ in Irish) _____ (fill in your holiday). Or do we? One of the most basic words for “happy” in Irish is “sona,” which sometimes appears as “shona,” as…

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How to Say ‘Be Happy’ in Irish and 20 Ways to Say ‘Happy’ Itself:  ‘Ádhúil’ to “Toilteanach’ with an Emphasis on “Sona” Posted by on Feb 10, 2018

 (le Róislín) We’ve recently had a request for the phrase “Be happy!” for a tattoo. So seo dhuit, na frásaí is coitianta (mo thuairimse, ar a laghad) le “Be happy” a rá agus ansin súil siar ar dhóigheanna eile le “happy” a rá i nGaeilge.  So, here you are, the most common phrases (my opinion…

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More Month-of-May Motifs (i nGaeilge, ar ndóigh) Posted by on Apr 27, 2014

(le Róislín) Is it the “merry month” of May or the “merry, merry month” of May?  Is it “meidhreach” or “sona,” “croíúil” or “súgach?  Or is it as in the traditional Irish phrase, “buí” (Mí Bhuí na Bealtaine)?  We looked at all of those terms in the last blog (nasc thíos) but here’s a quick…

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Merry, Month, May, and How to Say It All in Irish Posted by on Apr 24, 2014

(le Róislín) As we approach Lá Bealtaine and mí na Bealtaine, it seems a good time to break apart the time-worn phrase “merry, merry month of May,” and see how these words appear in Irish.  So we’ve got at least four words for “merry” plus a curious use of “buí,” one basic word for “month”…

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Súgach go Deargmheisce: From “Tipsy” to “Dead-drunk” in Irish Posted by on Mar 7, 2012

(le Róislín) From “súgach” to “ar deargmheisce,” the Irish language has numerous ways to indicate stages of intoxication.  This is, once again, just the tip of the vocabulary iceberg, but one has to start somewhere!  Here are some phrases to help get you ready for Lá Fhéile Pádraig (aka Lá ‘Éile Pádraig aka St. Patrick’s…

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“Holly,” “Jolly,” “Merry,” agus “Berry” – An nDéanann Siad Rím le Chéile i nGaeilge? Posted by on Nov 30, 2011

(le Róislín) Well, the answer is no, ní dhéanann siad rím le chéile i nGaeilge.  “Athdhúbaltaigh ríme” [pronunciation below] normally don’t when you translate their component parts from language to language.  For example, to attempt to translate a popular English rhyming reduplicative, “easy breezy,” in Irish you could choose from the following: easy: éasca, furasta…

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Happy vs. Merry and All That! (Sona, Meidhreach, srl.) Posted by on Dec 12, 2010

(le Róislín) ‘S é an séasúr é!  ‘Tis the season!  So let’s do a little holiday terminology.   Some of these phrases are quite well known but all are interesting when looked at from a translator’s perspective. Nollaig Shona!  or to be more specific “Nollaig Shona dhuit!” (to one person) or “Nollaig Shona dhaoibh! (plural).  Or…

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