Tag Archives: Welsh
Tuilleadh Téarmaí faoin gCroí (More “Heart” Terms) Posted by róislín on Feb 5, 2012
(le Róislín) As you might imagine, there are lots more terms and phrases involving the heart besides the terms of endearment such as “A ghrá mo chroí!” “A chuisle mo chroí!” or “Mo chroí thú!” What better month to look into them than Feabhra, mí an chroí (i Meiriceá agus sa Bhreatain). Since there are…
Saying “I love you” in Irish and Minding Your Velar Fricatives Posted by róislín on Oct 9, 2011
(le Róislín) We’ve recently been looking at different ways to say “I love you” in Irish. Some of you might have been wondering how to pronounce them, especially the phrases where the straightforward “grá” [graw] changes to “ghrá” [γraw, to be explained below, note the IPA gamma symbol for the “gh”] and the straightforward “croí” changes…
Na Séasúir (The Seasons, in Irish) Posted by róislín on Sep 21, 2011
(le Róislín) Here’s yet another topic based on “an féilire.” In Irish, na séasúir are samhradh, earrach, fómhar and geimhreadh. As you may have noticed, I didn’t list them in the order we usually think of them, just so we can do another round of meaitseáil. These four words may not very recognizable from an…
Mí Iúil: Mí Náisiúnta … (ainmnigh thusa é) Posted by róislín on Jul 20, 2010
(le Róislín) Before continuing with specific holidays celebrated on specific days in July, let’s look at three subjects that are celebrated all month long, at least i Meiriceá: Brocairí Teo Uachtar Reoite Frithleadrán All are interesting to ponder as causes of celebration and all are interesting as far as vocabulary goes. As far as I…
Saying Where You’re From “i nGaeilge” Posted by róislín on Jun 2, 2009
The terms “Gael-Mheiriceánaigh,” “Gael-Cheanadaigh,” and “Gael-Astrálach,” discussed on May 28 and earlier, account for a large percentage of the Irish diaspora, outside the U.S. Now to get more specific. Two North American groups who could have many members wishing to identify themselves in Irish are the Nova Scotians and the Newfoundlanders. In each case…
Logainmneacha Ceilteacha agus Náisiúntachtaí a Trí: Celtic Place Names and Nationalities – Wales and the Welsh Posted by róislín on May 3, 2009
We’ve recently discussed the place names Albain (Scotland) and Éire (Ireland). Now we’ll turn to ”An Bhreatain Bheag” (Wales). Since “Breatain” is a feminine noun, the adjective that modifies it, “beag” (little) becomes “bheag.” And since this country name includes the definite article “an” (the), it also causes “Breatain” to change to “Bhreatain,” pronounced with…
An Cháisc (Easter) is a Cognate of … Pascha and Pesach Posted by róislín on Apr 12, 2009
(le Róislín) It may seem straightforward enough that Pascha (Latin for Easter) and Pesach (Passover) are linguistically related to each other. Several of the other Celtic words for Easter are also clearly connected, Y Pasg (Welsh), Pask (Cornish, Breton), as are the English adjective, Paschal, and the Romance words, Pâques, Pascua, and Pasqua. Their connection…