Maith vs. mhaith

Beer Werewolf

Hey all

I'm Australian with an Irish background and am interested in learning Gaeilge. I've learned a few phrases and a bit of the grammar, but it seems to be different in various places. Not just from different areas of Ireland, but different in general.

For example, Byki has "Tráthnóna maith agat" and "Maidin mhaith agat".

What's the difference between maith and mhaith? I'm assuming Byki is fairly basic and not always completely correct or realistic.

Go raibh maith agat,
Beer Werewolf

An gal gréine

[quote=Beer Werewolf;

For example, Byki has "Tráthnóna maith agat" and "Maidin mhaith agat".

What's the difference between maith and mhaith?


'Tráthóna' is a masculine noun, 'Maidin' a feminine one, so the following adjective, 'maith' takes a 'h' in the feminine. Byki is spot-on.

Múinteoir

An gal gréine speaks the truth. The change in spelling is called 'lenition' in English, or 'séimhiú' in Irish.

Beer Werewolf

Oh that's good, I haven't been learning incorrect terms, then. I'm always suss about language translators.

So this means evening is a male noun and morning is female? Is there any reason for that?

Thanks for your help, guys!

FlutterinBantam

There could be but I don't know.

If I remember correctly nouns, which "end " in slender vowels "i" and "e" are fem. and those which end in broad vowels "aou" are masc.

generally I feel that is the case but I'm sure there are some anomalies or irregulars.

Thus "pairc" = field - i lár na pairce= In the middle of the field=fem.
"Bothar"=road - i lár an bothar=in the middle of the road=masc.

My apologies if that is not correct, just trying to help.

Beer Werewolf

This is all very confusing to me, but I've read something similar I think. I reckon I'll pick it up eventually, haha. I've only been learning it for a few days so far.

What does the "i lár" refer to then, and the 'na' and 'an'? How are those sentences grammatically structured? Sorry for the intricate questions (haha)!

FlutterinBantam

Beer Werewolf wrote: »

This is all very confusing to me, but I've read something similar I think. I reckon I'll pick it up eventually, haha. I've only been learning it for a few days so far.

What does the "i lár" refer to then, and the 'na' and 'an'? How are those sentences grammatically structured? Sorry for the intricate questions (haha)!

i lár ,means in the middle. i lár na páirce-in the middle of the field-you use "na " because of the fem noun and "an" for masc noun as in bóthar.


I'm hesitate to go further in case I'm wrong, some others will comment I'm sure.

best of luck with it.

Múinteoir

Beer Werewolf wrote: »

So this means evening is a male noun and morning is female? Is there any reason for that?

Yes and that's just the way the Irish language is. Lots of languages differentiate between nouns based on gender and it affects their spelling.

Beer Werewolf

It's a very beautiful language. That's all I can say.

Thanks again for your help! I'm slowly piecing things together.

conchubhar1

well, as long as you enjoy it i hope you stick with it

go n-eirí leat