Irish Language Blog
Menu
Search

Tag Archives: the

Madraí teo nó brocairí teo i séasúr na mbeárbaiciúnna (hot dogs, and more, in Irish) Posted by on Jul 6, 2016

(le Róislín) Hot dogs or hot terriers?  Hmm.  Madraí teo nó brocairí teo? One phrase of the two phrases above simply means dogs who are hot, mar shampla, madraí fadfhionnaidh, iad b’fhéidir amuigh faoin aer lá te, b’fhéidir sa ghaineamhlach nó i stát mar Arizona nó New Mexico nó i dtír mar Mhailí atá ar cheann…

Continue Reading

Seacláid (Chocolate): An Bia Compoird Is Fearr? Posted by on Apr 21, 2014

(le Róislín) During the Easter season, we can’t escape the promotion of “seacláid,” especially in the shape of “coiníní” and “uibheacha,” and, for those down under, “bilbithe,” as discussed in some previous blogs (naisc thíos). So let’s look at a few more terms related to “bia na ndéithe” (.i. seacláid, leis an leasainm bunaithe ar…

Continue Reading

Uachtarán: The Irish Word for “President” (uachtar, “upper portion, cream” + -án, a suffix) Posted by on Oct 28, 2012

(le Róislín) I guess that “teideal an bhlag seo” pretty much explains the Irish word for president, “uachtarán” [OO-ukh-tar-awn].  “Uachtar” [OO-ukh-tar] actually means “upper portion,” widely used today to mean “cream” (as in “uachtar reoite,” ice-cream).  That is, of course a throwback to the days before homaiginiú, when the cream rose to the top of…

Continue Reading

Ar Dhroim (Ar Muin) na Muice: Not Quite The Same as “High on the Hog” Posted by on May 5, 2012

(le Róislín) You might remember a passing reference in the last blog to “dromanna muc” (backs of pigs) in the discussion of caint mheafarach (fhíortha) in general.  The only real reason I pluralized it was to emphasize the point that lots of people use lots of figurative speech in lots of situations.  So over the…

Continue Reading

As Easy As “Pióg”: How To Say Kinds of Pies in Irish Posted by on Nov 12, 2011

(le Róislín) In the end, you’ll need to be your own judge as to whether this is really “as easy as pie,” but here at least are some tips for naming different types of pies.  And as two holiday seasons approach, Lá Altaithe (Meiriceá) and An Nollaig, what tastier topic? So let’s look at the terms for…

Continue Reading