{"id":9979,"date":"2017-12-25T03:37:03","date_gmt":"2017-12-25T03:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/?p=9979"},"modified":"2018-01-02T16:07:19","modified_gmt":"2018-01-02T16:07:19","slug":"twenty-ways-to-say-happy-in-irish-and-which-ones-to-use-for-christmas-and-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/twenty-ways-to-say-happy-in-irish-and-which-ones-to-use-for-christmas-and-new-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Twenty Ways to Say ‘Happy’ in Irish and Which Ones to Use for ‘Christmas’ and ‘New Year’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"<\/a>

n\u00e9al focal le R\u00f3isl\u00edn, Transparent Language, 2017<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

In various previous blogposts (naisc th\u00edos<\/strong>) we’ve looked at how to say “happy” in Irish.\u00a0 Like many times when we go from one language to another, it seems like the more you look, the more possibilities you find.\u00a0 So right now, the count for “happy” is at twenty, and I’m sure a few more will show up eventually.<\/p>\n

One key point, before we go further, is that this blogpost will specifically deal with “happy,” not the noun “happiness.”\u00a0 Including “happiness” would take another full blogpost.\u00a0 But I will say that the phrase most learners start with is “T\u00e1 \u00e1thas orm<\/strong>,” (I am happy, but literally, “Happiness is on me”).\u00a0 So today, we’ll include “\u00e1thasach<\/strong>” (happy) which is based on “\u00e1thas<\/strong>” (happiness) but we won’t deal further with “T\u00e1 \u00e1thas orm<\/strong>,” except to note that it is, of course, a very important phrase to know in Irish.<\/p>\n

Why not emphasize “T\u00e1 \u00e1thas orm<\/strong>“?\u00a0 Bhuel<\/strong>, ’tis the season, you know, and today we’re going to look at the phrases for ‘Merry Christmas,” which is often “Happy Christmas” in both Irish and British English, and for “Happy New Year,” which uses two two-word phrases for “happy,” but no single adjective.\u00a0 Neither of these seasonal phrases uses “\u00e1thas<\/strong>,” or even “\u00e1thasach<\/strong>,” so we’ll start with “sona<\/strong>,” “faoi sh\u00e9an<\/strong>,” and “faoi mhaise<\/strong>,” since these are used for the holiday phrases.\u00a0 Then we’ll do a whirlwind tour of “happy”\u00a0 — seventeen more ways to say it.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Hey, perhaps our tour will lead us to either \u00a0An Iorua<\/strong>, which is 2017’s “World’s Happiest Country” winner, or An Danmhairg<\/strong>, which took the honor in 2016.\u00a0 Bhuel<\/strong>, not really, but there’s a link below (nasc th\u00edos<\/strong>) for an article about national happiness.<\/p>\n

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, these words and phrases were used to create the word cloud above.\u00a0 It took quite a bit of manipulating to get “sona<\/strong>” to be fairly central and fairly large, so I hope it makes the point.\u00a0 “Sona<\/strong>” probably is the most basic of all, out of all of these ways to say “happy.”\u00a0 But they all have their role, agus a gcomhth\u00e9acsanna<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Anyway, here goes:<\/p>\n

1)) sona<\/strong>, used for “Nollaig Shona dhuit” and “Nollaig Shona dhaoibh<\/strong>” (both meaning “Merry\/Happy Christmas to you.”\u00a0 “Sona<\/strong>” is probably the most basic adjective for “happy.”\u00a0 It also shows up frequently in the combination “sona s\u00e1sta<\/strong>” (happy content) and it is the basis of another adjective, “sonasach<\/strong>,” and the noun “sonas<\/strong>” (happiness).\u00a0 It’s also the opposite of “dona<\/strong>” (bad), and there’s a small series of words with this “s\/d” alternation for positive and negative (sona\/dona, sochar\/dochar, soil\u00e9ir\/doil\u00e9ir, sorcha\/dorcha, su\u00e1ilceach\/du\u00e1ilceach<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

In addition to Christmas phrases, “sona<\/strong>” is also used for “Happy Birthday to you” (L\u00e1 Breithe Sona Duit <\/strong>OR Breithl\u00e1 Sona Duit<\/strong>).\u00a0 But please note, it’s not necessarily used across the board for “happy” with festive events, as we see in phrases like “Beannachta\u00ed na C\u00e1sca<\/strong>” (Happy Easter), “C\u00e1isc faoi mhaise<\/strong>” (Happy Passover), “Go maire sibh an l\u00e1!<\/strong>” (Happy Anniversary), and “Athbhliain faoi sh\u00e9an<\/strong>” (Happy New Year!).\u00a0 Of course, there’s nothing to stop one from using “sona<\/strong>” in these contexts, but mostly we try to use the expressions that are tried and true, or at least the ones suggested by dictionaries.\u00a0 “Happy Easter” can also be “C\u00e1isc Shona<\/strong>” but the “beannachta\u00ed<\/strong>” phrase seems to be more traditional.\u00a0 If you’re intrigued by “C\u00e1isc<\/strong>” serving for both Easter and Passover, please see the note below.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

2)) faoi sh\u00e9an<\/strong>, part of the “Happy New Year” phrase: Athbhliain faoi sh\u00e9an is faoi mhaise dhuit<\/strong> (plural: “dhaoibh<\/strong>” instead of “dhuit<\/strong>“).\u00a0 Literally, it means “under happiness” and it’s related to the noun “s\u00e9an<\/strong>” and another adjective, “s\u00e9anmhar<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

3)) faoi mhaise<\/strong>, also part of the “Happy New Year” phrase, although one can use just “faoi sh\u00e9an<\/strong>” or just “faoi mhaise<\/strong>.”\u00a0 But to me, it sounds the most complete and most heart-felt to use both phrases.\u00a0 Literally, it’s “under adornment\/beauty\/happiness\/prosperity” and it’s related to “maisi\u00fach\u00e1n<\/strong>” (decoration) and “maisigh<\/strong>” (decorate).<\/p>\n

The rest of the words for “happy” we’ll treat more succinctly, but I’d be happy to delve further into the nuances of meaning sometime in the future, if there’s interest.\u00a0 By the way, to say that “happy” (happy to do something) I’d probably use ” bheadh \u00e1thas orm<\/strong>” or “bre\u00e1 s\u00e1sta<\/strong>,” not “sona<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

So here are the remaining seventeen phrases, with some guidelines as to their additional meanings.\u00a0 I’ve listed “happy” first, as a definition, to show the common thread, but “happy” isn’t necessarily the primary meaning, especially for “meidhreach<\/strong>,” “s\u00fagach<\/strong>,” \u00a0“pl\u00e9isi\u00fartha<\/strong>,” and “toilteanach<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

4)) ar do sh\u00e1imh\u00edn s\u00f3<\/strong>, happy, very literally. “on your tranquil mood of comfort, ease, etc.”\u00a0\u00a0 Has to be adjusted to say, “He felt happy” (Bh\u00ed s\u00e9 ar a sh\u00e1imh\u00edn s\u00f3<\/strong>) or “She felt happy” (Bh\u00ed s\u00ed ar a s\u00e1imh\u00edn s\u00f3<\/strong>), etc.<\/p>\n

5)) ar do sh\u00e1imh\u00edn suilt<\/strong>, happy, very literally “on your tranquil mood of enjoyment”. \u00a0Has to be adjusted to say, “He felt happy” (Bh\u00ed s\u00e9 ar a sh\u00e1imh\u00edn suilt<\/strong>) or “She felt happy” (Bh\u00ed s\u00ed ar a s\u00e1imh\u00edn suilt<\/strong>), etc.<\/p>\n

6)) \u00e1dh\u00fail<\/strong>, happy, lucky (but note, “happy-go-lucky” is quite different, either “aerach,<\/strong>” which also means “gay” these days, or “aigeanta<\/strong>” or “gan bhuaireamh<\/strong>” or “an n\u00f3s cuma liom<\/strong>“).\u00a0 Based on “\u00e1dh<\/strong>” (luck).<\/p>\n

7)) \u00e1mharach<\/strong>, happy, lucky, fortuitous, fortunate; originally spelled “\u00e1dhmharach<\/strong>,” matching up with “\u00e1dh<\/strong>” (luck)<\/p>\n

8)) \u00e1thasach<\/strong>, happy, joyful, gleeful<\/p>\n

9)) bre\u00e1 s\u00e1sta<\/strong>, happy, well satisfied, glad, cheerful, delighted, jolly pleased (not that I ever say “jolly pleased” myself!)<\/p>\n

10)) gliondrach<\/strong>, happy, glad, euphoric, gleeful, joyful, joyous (based on “gliondar,<\/strong>” gladness, joyousness)<\/p>\n

11)) m\u00e9anar<\/strong>, pretty much limited to the phrase “Is m\u00e9anar d\u00f3\/di<\/strong>” (it’s happy\/lucky\/well for him\/her) and its variations, using the Irish verb “is<\/strong>,” not “t\u00e1<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

12)) l\u00fach\u00e1ireach<\/strong>, happy, glad, joyous, jubilant, rejoicing (based on “l\u00fach\u00e1ir<\/strong>,” joy, delight)<\/p>\n

13)) meidhreach<\/strong>, happy, merry, tipsy, lively, frisky<\/p>\n

14)) pl\u00e9isi\u00fartha<\/strong>, happy, enjoyable, pleasurable, pleasant, agreeable, cheerful; typically used with “\u00f3c\u00e1id” (occasion), “l\u00e1<\/strong>” (day), or “comhr\u00e1<\/strong>” (conversation)<\/p>\n

15)) rath\u00fail<\/strong>, happy, successful (based on “rath<\/strong>,” prosperity, abundance, good, etc.)<\/p>\n

16)) s\u00e1sta<\/strong>, happy, satisfied, willing, content, pleased<\/p>\n

17)) sonasach<\/strong>, happy, fortunate, lucky<\/p>\n

18)) su\u00e1ilceach<\/strong>, happy, enjoyable, virtuous, joyful, pleasant<\/p>\n

19)) s\u00fagach<\/strong>, happy, merry, tipsy, slightly drunk<\/p>\n

20)) toilteanach<\/strong>, happy, willing, voluntary, agreeable, consenting (based on “toil<\/strong>,” will, inclination, desire, wish, consent, liking)<\/p>\n

Bhuel, sin fiche sampla. \u00a0T\u00e1 s\u00fail agam go raibh s\u00e9 suimi\u00fail l\u00e9amh f\u00fathu agus go mbeidh siad \u00fas\u00e1ideach duit.\u00a0 SGF — R\u00f3isl\u00edn<\/strong><\/p>\n

N\u00f3ta faoin bhfocal “C\u00e1isc”<\/strong>: It may seem surprising, from an English-language perspective, that the words for “Passover” and “Easter” are the same in Irish, but they are.\u00a0 Sometimes Irish does use “C\u00e1isc na nGi\u00fadach<\/strong>” but “C\u00e1isc<\/strong>” alone can suffice.\u00a0 When I first noticed this, I was very intrigued, so I searched around a bit and found that they are the same in Spanish (Pascua<\/em>), Latin (Pascha<\/em>), and Welsh (Y Pasg<\/em>).\u00a0 In French they’re similar (P\u00e2que vs. P\u00e2ques<\/em>), and Italian simply adds “ebraica<\/em>” (Pasqua ebraica<\/em>).\u00a0 I must say, though, that translate.Google.com is really stretching it when it reverse translates “Pasqua ebraica<\/em>” as “Jewish Easter” (nasc don chuardach th\u00edos<\/strong>).\u00a0 As always, any comments from speakers of those languages are welcome; my conclusions are based on checking several dictionaries for each language, hard-copy and online.<\/p>\n

Naisc d’iarbhlaganna ar an \u00e1bhar seo<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

How many \u2018happys\u2019 are there in Irish for the various seasonal greetings?<\/a>\u00a0Posted by\u00a0r\u00f3isl\u00edn<\/a>\u00a0on Dec 14, 2017 in\u00a0Irish Language<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Happy, Happiness and Happy Dances in Irish (mostly based on \u2018\u00e1thas\u2019)<\/a>\u00a0Posted by\u00a0r\u00f3isl\u00edn<\/a>\u00a0on May 25, 2015 in\u00a0Irish Language<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Happiness Is \u2026 Lots of Ways to Say \u201cHappy\u201d in Irish (including \u201cHappy Christmas\u201d)<\/a>\u00a0Posted by\u00a0r\u00f3isl\u00edn<\/a>\u00a0on Dec 3, 2011 in\u00a0Irish Language<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Agus m\u00e1s amhlaidh go bhfuil n\u00edos m\u00f3 suime agat i s\u00e1stacht daoine<\/strong>: https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2017\/mar\/20\/norway-ousts-denmark-as-worlds-happiest-country-un-report<\/a><\/p>\n

Agus maidir leis an bhfr\u00e1sa Iod\u00e1ilise ar<\/strong> “Passover”: https:\/\/translate.google.com\/#it\/en\/pasqua%20ebraica<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

(le R\u00f3isl\u00edn) In various previous blogposts (naisc th\u00edos) we’ve looked at how to say “happy” in Irish.\u00a0 Like many times when we go from one language to another, it seems like the more you look, the more possibilities you find.\u00a0 So right now, the count for “happy” is at twenty, and I’m sure a few…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":9985,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3898],"tags":[4240,111621,306290,289951,111617,5137,255521,6274,111625,13056],"class_list":["post-9979","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-irish-language","tag-athbhliain","tag-daoibh","tag-dhaoibh","tag-dhuit","tag-duit","tag-faoi-mhaise","tag-faoi-shean","tag-nollaig","tag-shona","tag-sona"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9979","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=9979"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9979\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9996,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9979\/revisions\/9996"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/irish\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}