{"id":1204,"date":"2011-09-06T17:25:12","date_gmt":"2011-09-06T17:25:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/?p=1204"},"modified":"2014-04-30T17:00:44","modified_gmt":"2014-04-30T17:00:44","slug":"ainmneacha-na-mionna-i-ngaeilge-names-of-the-months-in-irish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/ainmneacha-na-mionna-i-ngaeilge-names-of-the-months-in-irish\/","title":{"rendered":"Ainmneacha na M\u00edonna i nGaeilge (Names of the Months in Irish)"},"content":{"rendered":"

(le R\u00f3isl\u00edn)<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve discussed the Irish names of various months as this blog has continued, but this might be a good time to go over the liosta<\/strong> as a whole.<\/p>\n

First let\u2019s look at \u201cMe\u00e1n F\u00f3mhair<\/strong>\u201d (September).\u00a0 By the way, if this is a new term for you, or if you\u2019re new to the list, please note that the \u201c-mh-\u201c in the middle of \u201cF\u00f3mhair<\/strong>\u201d is pronounced like a \u201cw,\u201d not like an \u201cm\u201d or like an \u201ch\u201d as they occur i mB\u00e9arla.\u00a0 <\/strong>The word rhymes approximately with \u201cmower\u201d or \u201crower\u201d (but not with \u201cbower\u201d or \u201ccower,\u201d a distinction that is due to the quirks of English spelling!).\u00a0 More pronunciation notes below.<\/p>\n

Some of the months\u2019 names are readily translatable, with everyday meanings in Modern Irish.\u00a0 \u201cMe\u00e1n F\u00f3mhair<\/strong>\u201d means \u201cmiddle of (the) harvest-season.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cF\u00f3mhar<\/strong>\u201d (minus the \u201c-i-\u201c) is the Irish word for \u201charvest,\u201d \u201charvest-season,\u201d and for \u201cFall \/ Autumn.\u201d\u00a0 To say \u201cof the harvest\u201d (or \u201cof Fall\u201d or \u201cof Autumn\u201d), we insert the \u201c-i-\u201c before the final consonant. That\u2019s the same rule we follow for nouns like \u201cbord<\/strong>\u201d (table) and \u201ccapall<\/strong>\u201d (horse).\u00a0 \u201cOf a table\u201d is \u201cboird<\/strong>\u201d (as in mata boird, <\/strong>table-mat) and \u201cof a horse\u201d is \u201ccapaill<\/strong>\u201d (as in cr\u00fa capaill<\/strong>, horseshoe, shoe of a horse).\u00a0 In other words, it\u2019s the typical rule for first-declension nouns, as we\u2019ve seen in https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/an-chead-diochlaonadh-newts-frogs-and-for-easter-baskets\/<\/a> .<\/p>\n

\u201cMe\u00e1n<\/strong>\u201d means \u201cmiddle\u201d and can be translated by related words in English, like \u201caverage,\u201d \u201cmiddling,\u201d or \u201cintermediate\u201d).\u00a0 It shows up in words like \u201cme\u00e1nr\u00e1ta<\/strong>\u201d (average rate), \u201cme\u00e1nscoth<\/strong>\u201d (middling quality), \u201cme\u00e1nteistim\u00e9ireacht<\/strong>\u201d (intermediate certificate), and \u201cme\u00e1nscoil<\/strong>\u201d (but remember this is not the same as \u201cmiddle school\u201d in the American context).<\/p>\n

We can discuss the meaning and structure of more of the months\u2019 names in future blogs, but for now, how about beag\u00e1n meaitse\u00e1la<\/strong>?\u00a0 Keep in mind that of the 12 months, I\u2019d say 5 are related to the Latin names (as the English versions are), 6 really reflect Celtic or specifically Irish roots, and one is a bit of both.<\/p>\n

1) M\u00e1rta \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>a) January<\/p>\n

2) L\u00fanasa\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>b) February<\/p>\n

3) I\u00fail\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>c) March<\/p>\n

4) M\u00ed na Nollag\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>d) April<\/p>\n

5) Deireadh F\u00f3mhair <\/strong>[DJERzh<\/sup>-uh FOH-irzh<\/sup>]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0e) May<\/p>\n

6) Meitheamh<\/strong> [MEH-uv]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 f) June<\/p>\n

7) Ean\u00e1ir\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>g) July<\/p>\n

8)) Me\u00e1n F\u00f3mhair <\/strong>[my<\/sup>awn FOH-wirzh<\/sup>]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 h) August<\/p>\n

9) Feabhra <\/strong>[Fy<\/sup>OW-ruh]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 i) September<\/p>\n

10) Bealtaine\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>j) October<\/p>\n

11) Aibre\u00e1n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>k) November<\/p>\n

12) M\u00ed na Samhna<\/strong> [mee nuh SOW-nuh]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 l) December<\/p>\n

\u00c1dh m\u00f3r agus sin \u00e9 don bhlag seo.\u00a0 SGF, \u00f3 R\u00f3isl\u00edn<\/strong><\/p>\n

Freagra\u00ed: <\/strong>1c, M\u00e1rta<\/strong>, March (Latin), 2h, L\u00fanasa<\/strong>, August (Irish\/Celtic); 3g, I\u00fail<\/strong>, July (Latin); 4l, M\u00ed na Nollag<\/strong>, December (Latin and Irish), 5j, Deireadh F\u00f3mhair<\/strong>, October (Irish); 6f, Meitheamh<\/strong>, June (Celtic); 7a, Ean\u00e1ir<\/strong>, January (Latin); 8i, Me\u00e1n F\u00f3mhair<\/strong>, September (Irish); 9b, Feabhra<\/strong>, February (Irish); 10e, Bealtaine<\/strong>, May (Celtic); 11d, Aibre\u00e1n<\/strong>, April (Latin); 12k, M\u00ed na Samhna<\/strong>, November (Irish\/Celtic)<\/p>\n

Additional Pronunciation Notes:<\/em><\/p>\n

Deireadh F\u00f3mhair<\/strong> [DJERzh<\/sup>-uh FOH-irzh<\/sup>]: the initial \u201cd\u201d is almost like an English \u201cj\u201d; the \u201czh<\/sup>\u201d superscript indicates a \u201cslender r,\u201d completely different from the letter \u201cr\u201d in English, and also quite different from the Irish \u201cbroad r,\u201d which is \u201cflapped.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feabhra<\/strong> [Fy<\/sup>OW-ruh]: the \u201c-eabh\u201d is like the \u201c-eabh\u201d in \u201cleabhar<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0 If the word \u201cleabhar<\/strong>\u201d is new for you, consider the phrase \u201cLeabhar Power<\/em><\/strong>\u201d (as in www.leabharpower.com<\/a>), and that will give you the pronunciation of the \u201c-eabh.\u201d\u00a0 Nothing like the power of rhyme for a catchy slogan!\u00a0 When combined with the next letter, \u201cr,\u201d it\u2019s sort of like the English word \u201cdowry,\u201d except that the \u201cr\u201d is flapped (with one quick trill).<\/p>\n

Bealtaine<\/strong> [BAL-tin-yuh]: keep in mind that in Irish, this word has three syllables, unlike the anglicized version, \u201cBeltane,\u201d which is a two-syllable word.<\/p>\n

M\u00ed na Samhna <\/strong>[mee nuh SOW-nuh]: the transcription \u201csow\u201d here is as in the pig (a sow), not as in \u201cto sow seeds\u201d\u00a0 This one literally means \u201cthe month of Samhain<\/strong>,\u201d and the word \u201cm\u00ed<\/strong>\u201d (month) must be used to distinguish the full month from the single day of \u201cSamhain<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

M\u00ed na Nollag: <\/strong>this literally means \u201cthe month of Christmas,\u201d and, as with \u201cM\u00ed na Samhna<\/strong>,\u201d the word \u201cm\u00ed<\/strong>\u201d must be included to distinguish the month from \u201can Nollaig<\/strong>,\u201d which is Christmas Day.\u00a0 The phrase \u201cna Nollag<\/strong>\u201d means \u201cof Christmas Day.\u201d<\/p>\n

N\u00f3ta don N\u00f3ta faoi \u201cleabharpower.com\u201d:<\/strong> Northern speakers tend to pronounce \u201cleabhar<\/strong>\u201d (book) more like \u201clure,\u201d rather than with the \u201c-ow-\u201c vowel sound of words like \u201cflower,\u201d \u201cpower,\u201d or, for that matter, \u201cvowel\u201d itself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(le R\u00f3isl\u00edn) We\u2019ve discussed the Irish names of various months as this blog has continued, but this might be a good time to go over the liosta as a whole. First let\u2019s look at \u201cMe\u00e1n F\u00f3mhair\u201d (September).\u00a0 By the way, if this is a new term for you, or if you\u2019re new to the list…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3898],"tags":[4015,96677,96678,4191,4247,4297,4620,96682,96683,96687,5148,5155,3727,5667,96680,96688,5775,96686,99,281280,5952,3756,2295,6027,96671,96685,6085,96681,6088,96679,6274,6304,96684,6667,27740],"class_list":["post-1204","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-irish-language","tag-aibrean","tag-ainmneacha-na-mionna","tag-an-mhi","tag-april","tag-august","tag-bealtaine","tag-celtic","tag-december","tag-deireadh-fomhair","tag-eanair","tag-feabhra","tag-february","tag-first-declension","tag-irish","tag-iuil","tag-january","tag-july","tag-june","tag-latin","tag-leabharpower","tag-lunasa","tag-march","tag-marta","tag-may","tag-mean-fomhair","tag-meitheamh","tag-mi","tag-mi-na-nollag","tag-mi-na-samhna","tag-months-in-irish","tag-nollaig","tag-november","tag-october","tag-samhain","tag-september"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/36"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1204"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1204\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5200,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1204\/revisions\/5200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}