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'Wolf' as gaeilge

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  • 07-12-2023 7:40pm
    #1
    HoteiMarkii
    Registered Users Posts: 127 ✭✭


    I'm just working on a project at the moment, and was wondering what would be the most commonly used word as Gaeilge for a wolf?

    To be exact, I'd love to know what one would call a 'wolf sanctuary' or a 'wolf refuge'?

    Would either 'Tearmann faolchú' nó 'Tearmann mactíre' suffice?

    Thanks in advance.



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    #2
    Esel
    Registered Users Posts: 22,002 ✭✭✭✭Esel


    Mac tíre is two words.

    Would it be more correct to say Tearmann mhic tíre? (I'm unsure of this).

    Not your ornery onager



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    #3
    HoteiMarkii
    Registered Users Posts: 127 ✭✭HoteiMarkii


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121468087#Comment_121468087

    Yeah, Tearmann mhic tíre may very well be correct. I'm a little unsure myself, to be honest.

    Thank you.



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    #4
    StevenToast
    Registered Users Posts: 3,361 ✭✭✭StevenToast


    Madra dubh

    "Don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining." - Fletcher



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    #5
    Furze99
    Registered Users Posts: 10,249 ✭✭✭✭Furze99


    Mada seems to have used in the past to distinguish from madra. Mada used for a domesticated dog while madra covered foxes and wolves.



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    #6
    Insect Overlord
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,857 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    Tearmann na Mac Tíre would be my suggestion, as the plural ("mic") is usually considered a "weak" plural (lagiolra) and reverts to its singular spelling in the genitive case. (The same thing happens with mic léinn for things like Students' Union/Aontas na Mac Léinn)

    Tearmann na bhFaolchon would also be nice.



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    #7
    HoteiMarkii
    Registered Users Posts: 127 ✭✭HoteiMarkii


    Thanks to all for your help.

    Madra Dubh has rather sinister sounding connotations. I do love them as a species, but our forefathers demonised them leading to their ultimate demise on the island.

    I'm leaning more towards Tearmann na Mac Tíre. It rolls off the tongue rather nicely!

    I'm open to other suggestions of course.

    Thanks once again to all for your contributions.



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    #8
    deirdremf
    Registered Users Posts: 1,871 ✭✭✭deirdremf


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121468314#Comment_121468314

    I'm not so sure about that.

    It seems to be more a dialect thing, with mada or madadh used in Connacht and Ulster, and madra used in Munster.

    That said, there is a question as to whether madra originally might have been a collective noun for a pack of hounds - or wolves, as with other words (gasra, macra, marcra etc).



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