The "What is this Irish word/phrase in English" thread

Worztron · 14-12-2011 2:34pm #1

What does this mean? Uibh Fhaili abú!

An gal gréine · 14-12-2011 3:19pm

Offaly for ever.
Uíbh Fhailí go brách is the same.

Worztron · 16-12-2011 9:23pm

Would this be accurate?

Your friend Jon = Do chara Jon

An gal gréine · 16-12-2011 9:33pm

Worztron wrote: »

Would this be accurate?

Your friend Jon = Do chara Jon

Maybe just a comma after friend/chara.

Worztron · 16-12-2011 9:34pm

An gal gréine wrote: »

Maybe just a comma after friend/chara.

Like so?

Your friend, Jon = Do chara, Jon

An gal gréine · 16-12-2011 9:44pm

Yeah, that's my take on it .

franc 91 · 27-12-2011 7:29pm

How do I say? - I would be most grateful if you could...
(PS I'm told on good authority that Irish speakers don't say - please (le do thoil) - which is Béarlachas, but would normally use the conditional to ask for something and would also use a blessing as a form of politeness as part of their request).

An gal gréine · 27-12-2011 9:36pm

Bheinn fíor-bhuíoch dá dtiocfadh leat...
Bheinn fíor-bhuíoch dá bhféadfá...

franc 91 · 27-12-2011 9:56pm

Go raibh maith agat - but the question I'm always asking myself is - would an Irish-speaker say this? or am I transposing English into Irish? Would you use this in a letter for example?

An gal gréine · 27-12-2011 10:06pm

Yes I would, and I can assure you that there'd be a "le do thoil" in there somewhere.
"...dom pionta" is often heard when looking for a drink and while it sounds demanding it's not taken to be so.
I suppose it depends on the circumstances but "le do thoil" or má's é do thoil é" are in regular use.

franc 91 · 27-12-2011 10:24pm

Well in my little book entitled 'L'Irlandais de Poche' (which has a lot to answer for, I might add) it says - (for the second pint) -
Puis-je avoir une autre pinte? - Aon seans ar phionta eile?
La voilà - Seo é.

An gal gréine · 27-12-2011 10:29pm

That would be bang on...and that's where I'm off to now...sláinte

franc 91 · 27-12-2011 10:33pm

mise freisin - slàn leat

Enkidu · 28-12-2011 2:56pm

Worztron wrote: »

Like so?

Your friend, Jon = Do chara, Jon

Mo chara, e.t.c. imply that they are your only friend. For the English "my friend" say cara liom, leat, e.t.c. or cara de mo chuid/dem' chuid.

An gal gréine · 29-12-2011 2:47pm

At the end of a letter, this is what I'd put:
...do chara, Jon.
"cara de mo chuid" is "one of my friends", so
"cara de do chuid"..."one of your friends" would not need to be stated.
I dont see any implication that either of us, in the example, has no other friends.
Maybe someone could throw more light on the subject.

franc 91 · 29-12-2011 9:01pm

In my little green book entitled Collins Pocket Irish Dictionary, there's a section on letter writing at the end, with sample letters and beginnings and endings. In the list of 'less formal' it has -
Goodbye - Beannacht
Bye for now - Slàn go foill (with a fada on the 'o')
All the best - Adh mor (with fadas on the 'A' and 'o')
Much love - Grà mor (with a fada on the 'o')
Your friend/pal, - Do chara,
With love from - Le grà o.... (with a fada on the 'o')

Enkidu · 30-12-2011 12:17am

An gal gréine wrote: »

At the end of a letter, this is what I'd put:
...do chara, Jon.
Maybe someone could throw more light on the subject.

I couldn't see it either, but a few native speakers found it funny when I said mo chara, e.t.c. The area was Mayo and I was told that it meant "my only friend" unless the person had been mentioned a bit previously. Maybe it's different in letters.

franc 91 · 30-12-2011 9:16am

I've looking around - and I've found this on skoool.ie - homework (Irish) - writing a letter
http://www.skoool.ie/skoool/homeworkzone.asp?id=1764

An gal gréine · 30-12-2011 2:32pm

Context, of course, is everything.

Enkidu · 31-12-2011 11:29am

An gal gréine wrote: »

Context, of course, is everything.

Yeah, I'll give the context. Basically I said:
Is lem' chara a bhíos ag caint....

Then the guy started laughing and asked if I had only one friend. I was told I could only use "mo chara" if I had introduced this person first, I couldn't explain them later following the use of "mo chara".

I've found a few links where people mentions this:
http://www.irishgaelictranslator.com/translation/topic32951.html

https://listserv.heanet.ie/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0909&L=OLD-IRISH-L&D=1&T=0&F=P&P=105164

http://www.daltai.com/discus/messages/13510/36822.html?1232215521

I don't really know how this effects letters. Basically "mo chara" is stronger or more exclusive than the English "my friend", but perhaps that is okay for a letter, where you might be okay with saying "my real/genuine/only friend".

An gal gréine · 31-12-2011 2:46pm

Thanks for those links, Enkidu, plenty of info there.
I think that we would mostly say "a chara" when addressing a friend directly. "is tú mo chara" would be a very intimate way of putting it.
Another scenario would be if someone handed you a phone to say a friend was on for you they might say,
"cara de do chuid atá ann"
and you might later say something similar "cara de mo chuid a bhí ann".
Definitely at the end of a letter you would'nt write "cara de do chuid" imo.

Enkidu · 31-12-2011 5:01pm

An gal gréine wrote: »

Definitely at the end of a letter you would'nt write "cara de do chuid" imo.

Yes, definitely.
I think "do chara" is probably a good way to end a letter to a close friend.

deirdremf · 01-01-2012 11:14am

An gal gréine wrote: »

Another scenario would be if someone handed you a phone to say a friend was on for you they might say,
"cara de do chuid atá ann"

Or "cara leat ata ann"

and you might later say something similar "cara de mo chuid a bhí ann".

Or "cara liom a bhi ann"

Definitely at the end of a letter you would'nt write "cara de do chuid" imo.

"do chara deirdremf" is fine at the end of a letter.

Worztron · 01-01-2012 8:42pm

What is the translation of: "Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann"

Su Campu · 01-01-2012 9:06pm

Worztron wrote: »

What is the translation of: "Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann"

Music Festival of Ireland. (Fleadh is festival, isn't it??!!)

Worztron · 01-01-2012 9:18pm

Su Campu wrote: »

Music Festival of Ireland. (Fleadh is festival, isn't it??!!)

I though 'Féile' was 'Festival'.

According to GTranslate - Fleadh = Feast?

But I thought Feast = Féasta.

Su Campu · 01-01-2012 9:38pm

Worztron wrote: »

I though 'Féile' was 'Festival'.

According to GTranslate - Fleadh = Feast?

But I thought Feast = Féasta.

The Fleadh themselves refer to it as Festival, but you're right, Féile is that too...

http://www.fleadh2010.ie/Default.aspx?StructureID_str=8

Hooch1982 · 03-01-2012 2:04am

Hi all can some one translate what is written on this pendent for me i would be very grateful, Thank you in advance. Sorry for the large photo i needed the detail .

Insect Overlord · 03-01-2012 2:42am

Outer: "Comhdháil de Chumann na Fírinne Catoilicige"

Inner: Tuaim 1936

The Meeting/Communion of the Association of Catholic Truth, Tuaim, 1936

Hooch1982 · 03-01-2012 3:32am

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Outer: "Comhdháil de Chumann na Fírinne Catoilicige"

Inner: Tuaim 1936

The Meeting/Communion of the Association of Catholic Truth, Tuaim, 1936

Thanks Insect Overlord, very interesting worth a look into .Go raibh céad maith agat.

Insect Overlord · 03-01-2012 3:40am

Hooch1982 wrote: »

Thanks Insect Overlord, very interesting worth a look into .Go raibh céad maith agat.

I think it has something to do with this group: Catholic Truth Society

See also the sources for this text: http://www.logainm.ie/eolas/Data/IHTA/tuam.pdf

Hooch1982 · 03-01-2012 3:50am

Insect Overlord wrote: »

I think it has something to do with this group: Catholic Truth Society

See also the sources for this text: http://www.logainm.ie/eolas/Data/IHTA/tuam.pdf

Ya i could not find alot on the Catholic truth society but i sent a mail to the museum in Tuam to see what they can tell me, i will let you know when they get back to me if you have any interest? Strange thing to find in your back garden !

Insect Overlord · 03-01-2012 4:10am

Hooch1982 wrote: »

Ya i could not find alot on the Catholic truth society but i sent a mail to the museum in Tuam to see what they can tell me, i will let you know when they get back to me if you have any interest? Strange thing to find in your back garden !

I don't have a particular interest in the Society. I just enjoy spur-of-the-moment research!

I'd be happy to find out more though, so post here or PM me if you get a reply from the museum.

Worztron · 25-01-2012 11:45am

What is the exat meaning of this "Nollaig shona daoibhse agus athbhlain faoi hmaise daoibhse. Adh mór faoi 2012."?

Thanks in advance.

An gal gréine · 25-01-2012 1:08pm

Worztron wrote: »

What is the exat meaning of this "Nollaig shona daoibhse agus athbhlain faoi hmaise daoibhse. Adh mór faoi 2012."?

Thanks in advance.

Happy Christmas to you (plural) and happy new year to you. Best of luck in 2012.
The -se after "daoibh" is unnecessary and should only be used for emphasis.

Worztron · 25-01-2012 3:28pm

An gal gréine wrote: »

Happy Christmas to you (plural) and happy new year to you. Best of luck in 2012.
The -se after "daoibh" is unnecessary and should only be used for emphasis.

So it is saying Happy Christmas to more than 1 person?

Focalbhach · 25-01-2012 4:22pm

Yep - the 'daoibh' is 'you plural'. If it was only addressed to one person it would be 'duit' (or in this case, with the emphasis, 'duitse').

Focalbhach · 25-01-2012 4:34pm

An gal gréine wrote: »

"...dom pionta" is often heard when looking for a drink and while it sounds demanding it's not taken to be so.

"Dom pionta", by itself? Or "tabhair dom pionta"? Or...?

As a non-native (but interested) speaker this is something I'm always very self-conscious about when ordering in pubs/shops/cafes, etc., in that I'm not sure what the 'natural' way to say it would be. What I mean is that, in English, it sounds natural to say "Can I have a pint?", "Can I get soup and a sandwich?", and so on, but in Irish it doesn't sound natural to me to say "An féidir liom pionta a fháil?", "Ar mhiste leat...", or anything along those lines. Can anyone wiser than me give another perspective?

An gal gréine · 25-01-2012 5:51pm

Focalbhach wrote: »

"Dom pionta", by itself? Or "tabhair dom pionta"? Or...?

As a non-native (but interested) speaker this is something I'm always very self-conscious about when ordering in pubs/shops/cafes, etc., in that I'm not sure what the 'natural' way to say it would be. What I mean is that, in English, it sounds natural to say "Can I have a pint?", "Can I get soup and a sandwich?", and so on, but in Irish it doesn't sound natural to me to say "An féidir liom pionta a fháil?", "Ar mhiste leat...", or anything along those lines. Can anyone wiser than me give another perspective?

The "tabhair" is understood but not said.
By far the most common way is " pionta x le do thoil"
You will hear beginners say " an bhfuil cead agam pionnta leanna a fháil ".
I suppose we all have to start somewhere.

Focalbhach · 26-01-2012 1:32am

An gal gréine wrote: »

You will hear beginners say " an bhfuil cead agam pionnta leanna a fháil ".
I suppose we all have to start somewhere.

I wouldn't say "An bhfuil cead agam..." (:))... but am I right in thinking that the equivalent of "Can I get x, please" (in English) is usually more like "Give me x" (in Irish), and that that's not rude?

An gal gréine · 26-01-2012 12:21pm

Focalbhach wrote: »

I wouldn't say "An bhfuil cead agam..." (:))... but am I right in thinking that the equivalent of "Can I get x, please" (in English) is usually more like "Give me x" (in Irish), and that that's not rude?

It's in the Gaeltacht, particularly Donegal that you'll hear "...domh pionta".
The bartender's name could be added if you know it.
However, in both Gaeltacht and Galltacht "pionta le do thoil" is used and understood and natural.

newmug · 26-01-2012 1:08pm

How do you say "just"? Like "I'm just going up the road", or "just give me a small bit of X".

An gal gréine · 26-01-2012 3:33pm

newmug wrote: »

How do you say "just"? Like "I'm just going up the road", or "just give me a small bit of X".

Díreach/go díreach.
Even though your dictionary will say this means "straight", which it does, in the context you mention, "Tá mé (go) díreach ag dul suas an bóthar"...." tabhair dom díreach giota beag de x"

dubhthach · 26-01-2012 4:09pm

The idiom "I'm just after x" in Hiberno-English is direct translation from Irish "Tá mé díreach taréis ..."

One could call it "reverse Béarlachas"

P. Breathnach · 26-01-2012 4:37pm

dubhthach wrote: »

The idiom "I'm just after x" in Hiberno-English is direct translation from Irish "Tá mé díreach taréis ..."

One could call it "reverse Béarlachas"

There is an English word for it: Hibernicism.

franc 91 · 26-01-2012 5:43pm

In my copy of the Collins Easy Learning Irish Dictionary there's this -
I did it just now - anois féin a rinne mé é
he's just arrived - tà sé direach tagtha (with a fada on the 'i')
I'm just coming! - Beidh mé leat anois!
and I think you could also use ach with a negative and a vn
or to say just so much is enough - is leor

Worztron · 04-02-2012 1:46pm

What does the phrase here mean (in upper left logo): http://www.indymedia.ie/article/100751

Saormheáin Éireann

Insect Overlord · 04-02-2012 1:48pm

Free media of Ireland.

Worztron · 15-02-2012 7:51pm

What is the Irish for "No overtaking/No passing"?

Krusader · 15-02-2012 9:04pm

Worztron wrote: »

What is the Irish for "No overtaking/No passing"?

Ná Scoitear

Worztron · 17-02-2012 12:34pm

Does Ni neart go cur le chéile mean There's no strength without unity?

The "What is this Irish word/phrase in English" thread

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