Cúpla Focal: A couple of Irish Gaelic words
At Birmingham Irish, we feel that the beautiful language of Gaelic is an extraordinary gift that should be passed down from generation to generation with immense pride. This very reason is behind our language column, Cúpla Focal, meaning, a couple of Irish Gaelic words.
Dia Daoibh a chairde! Hello!
Conas atá sibh? How are you?
Tá Lá Fhéile Pádraig ag teacht go luath! Is é Padraig Naomhphatrún na hÉireann. Bíonn Lá Fhéile Padraig ar an 17ú Márta gach bliain. Bíonn spóirt agus spraoi ag Éireannaigh ar fud an domhain.
- Lá Fhéile Padraig – St Patrick’s Day
- go luath - soon
- spóirt agus spraoi – fun and games
- ar fud an domhain – all over the world
A few words that might be useful at this time:
- seamróg: shamrock
- paráid: parade
- ribín glas: green ribbon
- bratach ghlas: green flag
- ceol: music
- cláirseach; harp
- ceolchoirm: concert
- slua mór: a big crowd
- pionta Guinness: you may guess that one!
Just a tiny bit of grammar
Notice above that the word for green is spelt in two different ways – ribín glas and bratach ghlas. The word ribín is masculine and is followed by the adjective glas – no change. However, the word bratach is feminine so the adjective following it has to change and take a seimhiú (or a h).
You may want to send some cards to your family and friends for St Patrick’s Day. Here are some words you might use:
Beannachtaí ar Lá Fhéile Padraig (Beannachtaí means blessings or greetings)
or:
Lá Fhéile Padraig sona duit (Happy St Partick’s Day)
or:
Bain sult as an lá (Enjoy the day!)
Sláinte: cheers!
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