|
Focail an Chláir |
|
At our launch we introduced innovate folded business cards with Irish words that can be used in everyday sentences. This were available free of charge and fit easily into your pocket, purse or wallet! Click here to download a free PDF of these cards... Please find below some of the words with audio snippets to show you how to correctly pronounce the word. Just click on the word and save to your computer. You can burn these to CD, transfer to your iPOD... Stay tuned to our website for more Focail an Chláir updates! |
|
Cuimhneamh an Chláir The Clare Oral History & Folklore Group |
|
Words of Endearment |
|||
|
As Gaeilge |
|
English |
Example |
|
(Pr. A-Roon) |
|
Sweetheart |
Sleep well, a rún. |
|
(Pr. A-Store/A-Store-een) |
|
My heart’s treasure |
Happy Birthday, a stór! |
|
(Pr. A-Kree) |
|
My dearest |
When will you be home, a chroí? |
|
(Pr. A-Voor-neen) |
|
Sweetheart |
I’ll meet you there, a mhuirnín |
|
(Pr. A-FAH-tah) |
|
Pet / Little one |
Be careful not to play out on the road, a pheata. |
|
(Pr. A-Doll-tah) |
|
A Ward/ A Pet |
I’ll take care of that, a dalta. |
|
(Pr. A-Koosh-lah) |
|
My darling |
Yes, mo chuisle, I’ll wait for you. |
|
(Pr. A-wock/Mok) |
|
My Son/ Also used to describe a jolly person |
Your dinner is on the table for you, a mhac / Seán is great mac. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jibes & Taunts |
|||
|
As Gaeilge |
|
English |
Example |
|
(Pr. Ply-keh) |
|
A fool |
Pay no mind to that pleidhce |
|
(Pr. Leb-eda) |
|
An awkward clown / A helpless idiot |
You should steer clear of that leibide. |
|
(Pr. Own-shock) |
|
A foolish woman |
She’s a terrible óinseach |
|
(Pr. Oot-amawl-ee) |
|
A Fumbler/ Clumsy Person |
Look at that útamálaí - he is all toes and no fingers! |
|
(Pr. Keo-lawn) |
|
A giddy, lightheaded babbler. |
There’s no stopping that ceolán once she gets talking. |
|
(Pr. Shown-een) |
|
One who apes foreign ways. |
That seoinín was always anti-Irish |
|
(Pr. Amadawn) |
|
A person who acts foolishly. |
He’s an awful amadán |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Social Gatherings |
|||
|
As Gaeilge |
|
English |
Example |
|
(Pr. Meh-hell) |
|
A network of borrowed reciprocal labour. |
We’ll have a meitheal to bring in the turf. |
|
(Pr. Koh-ar) |
|
A day’s work in exchange for the same. |
I made comhar with the neighbours so that I could have a meitheal later |
|
(Pr. Kay-lee) |
|
An evening visit with music/dancing. |
They’re going on céilidhe. |
|
(Pr. Fesh) |
|
A festival of song/dance |
The feis will be great craic |
|
(Pr. Shan-a-kas) |
|
Gossip / conversation |
She’s an awful woman for the seanchas |
|
(Pr. Coo-rd) |
|
A social visit |
He goes out on cuairt every Friday |
|
(Pr. Rog-ar-nah) |
|
A social, neighbourly Visit N. Clare) |
He’s gone out ar ragairne, and God only knows when he’ll be home! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quantities |
|||
|
As Gaeilge |
|
English |
Example |
|
(Pr. Go-awl) |
|
As much as can be taken between the outstretched arms. |
Bring in a gabháil of turf for the fire. |
|
(Pr. Dor-nawn) |
|
A fistful |
Could I have a dornán of corn? |
|
(Pr. Barth) |
|
A bundle carried on the back or shoulders |
Where is he going with that beart of hay? |
|
(Pr. Maw-m) |
|
The full of two hands taken together. |
Those hens are in need of a mám of oats |
|
(Pr. Lie-arr) |
|
A loose handful. |
Give a ladhar of mess to those pigs |
|
(Pr. Dee-ower) |
|
A drop. |
There is not even a deor left |
|
(Pr. Dree-a-dor) |
|
The dregs / Residuum. |
That bottle has been drained to it’s very dríodar |