Vocabulary

Masculine nouns

eolas, an t-eolas (un TOH-luhs), knowledge of a subject or place, rather than of a fact.

glas (glahs),, a lock

poll eochrach (poul OHK*-ruhk*), keyhole

poll na heochrach (poul nuh HOHK*-ruhk*), the keyhole

Feminine nouns

eochair, an eochair (un OHK*-hir), key

aeróg, an aeróg (un ay*r-ROHG), aerial of a radio or TV set

leaba (LA-buh), bed

sreang, an tsreang (srang, un trang), wire

caibidil, an chaibidil (un K*AH-bi-dil), chapter

Drill

Make four sentences out of each of the word groups below. The example of what to do follows the first group.

1. Bris (brish), break; na cupáin (nuh ku-PAW*-in), the cups; na plátaí(nuh PLAW*-tee), the plates.

An mbristear (MRISH-tuhr) na cupáin? Níbhristear (VRISH-tuhr) iad. Nach mbristear na plátái? Bristear iad.

Are the cups broken? (Do people break the cups?) They are not. Aren't the plates broken? (Don't people break the plates?) They are.

2. Díol (DEE-uhl), sell; bainne anseo (BAHN-ye un-SHUH), milk here; caife anseo (KAHF-e un-SHUH), coffee here.

3. Múin (MOO-in), teach; an Fhraincis ann (un RANK-ish oun), French there; an Iodáilis ann (un i-DAW*-lish oun), Italian there.

4. Ól (ohl), drink; beoir anseo (BYOH-ir un-SHUH), beer here; tae amháin anseo (tay* uh-WOYN un-SHUH).

5. Mínigh (MEEN-ee), explain; an ceacht go soiléir (un kyahk*t goh suh-LAY*R), the lesson clearly; an chaibidil sin go maith (goh MAH), that chapter well.

6. Oscail (OH-skil), open; an chéad dhoras ar maidin (un hyay*d GUH-ruhs er MAH-din), the first door in the morning; an dara doras taréis sin (un DUH-ruh DUH-ruhs tuhr-AY*SH shin), the second door after that.

Key to 2. to 6. above:

1. An ndíoltar bainne anseo? Nídhíoltar anseoé. Nach ndíoltar caife anseo? Díoltar anseoé.

2. An múintear an Fhraincis ann? Nímhúintear anní. Nach múintear an Iodáilis ann? Múintear anní.

3. Anóltar beoir anseo? Níóltar anseoí. Nach n-óltar tae amháin anseo?Óltar anseoé.

4. An mínitear go soiléiré. Nach mínitear an chaibidil sin go maith? Mínitear go maithí.

5. An osclaítear (un OH-sklee-tuhr) an chéad dhoras ar maidin? Níosclaítearé. Nach n-osclaítear an dara doras taréis sin? Osclaítear taréis siné.

Notes:Usually when you change to the free form, a word follows the free form. The word may be the original noun, such as "bainne" or "an Fhraincis", or it may be a pronoun, such as "é", "í", or "iad".

Adverbs and other words may be repeated, too, or left out, depending on the meaning that you want to convey and on how briefly you wish to express yourself.

Remember that "an" and "nach" eclipse the first consonant of the next verbal form where possible, and that "nach" causes an "n" to precede a vowel starting the next word, as in "nach n-óltar".

Irish Lesson 69

When "n" starts a word and the nearest vowel in the word is "a", "o" or "u", pronounce this "n" by spreading the tongue and pressing it against the upper front teeth. Practice this broad "n" sound in: ná, nó, nuair (NOO-ir), nach, nocht.

If "n" begins a word but the nearest vowel is "e" or "i", pronounce the "n" with the tongue tip on the hard rim behind the upper front teeth. You will often hear a faint (y) sound as you continue pronouncing the rest of the word. Practice this sound in: néad (nay*d) or (nyay*d), ní, nead (nyad), neimh (nev), neodrach (NYOH-druhk*).

If the "n" is inside or at the end of a word, pronounce it as you do in English. Practice on: lán, rón, anuas (uh-NOO-uhs), móin (MOH-in), lean (lan), glanaim.

If a double "n" inside a word is near an "e" or "i", pronounce it (ny). Examples: bainne (BAHN-ye), tinneas (TIN-yuhs).

Double "n" at a word end following "i" may get a (n) or (ny) sound, the latter being close to (ng). Examples: linn (lin) or (liny);álainn (AW*-lin) or (AW*-liny). The (ny) sound makes a combination like "álainné" sound (AW*-lin yay*).

REFLEX EXPRESSIONS

Learn these expressions for quick use in thought and speech:

Céard faoi? (kay*rd fwee), What about it?

Céard fútsa? (kay*rd FOOT-suh), What about you?

Céard fúthu? (kay*rd FOO-huh), What about them?

Tamallóshin (TAH-muhl oh hin), a while ago.

Is duitseéseo (is DIT-she ay* shuh), This is for you.

COMHRÁ(KOH-raw*), CONVERSATION

In this week's long conversation, we will break up the sentences into phrases by hyphenation, to give you practice in working by phrases, something which is important in learning Irish. Go over each sentence in Irish until you can say it easily and understand what is meant, making use of the English translation if needed. Do not translate into English. Next, cover the Irish and try to express the English in Irish. You do not need to get the exact wording of the original Irish, only the sense of it.

Bláthnaid(BLAW*-nid): A Phóil (uh FOH-il), bíonn rud beag -- do mo bhodhrú(duhm VOU-roo) -- le tamall anois (le TAH-muhl uh-NISH). Blathnaid: Paul, there's a small thing bothering me for a while now.

Pól(pohl): Céardésin? (kay*rd ay* shin) Airgead, an ea? (AR-i-guhd un a) Paul: What's that? Money, is it?

Bláthnaid:Ó, níhea. Tágach rud -- go han-mhaith (goh HAHN-uh VWAH) -- maidir leis an airgead (MAH-dir lesh un AR-i-guhd). Oh, it's not. Everything is very good in the matter of money.

Pól:Ó, tááthas orm (taw* AW*-huhs OH-ruhm) --ésin a chloisteáil (ay* shin uh K*LISH-taw*-il). Níorbh fhéidir liom (NEE-ruhv AY*-dir luhm) -- mórán cabhrach (moh-RAW*N KOU-rahk*) -- a thabairt duit (uh HOO-irt dit) -- sa chás sin (suh k*aw*s shin). Oh, I'm happy to hear that. I wouldn't be able to give you much help in that case.

Bláthnaid:Creidim thú(KRED-im hoo), -- ach is fadhb bheag (feyeb vee-UHG) -- an fhadhb (eyeb) atáagam anois. Bíonn buairt orm (BOO-irt OH-ruhm) -- le pictiúr na teilifíse (le PIK-tyoor nuh TEL-i-feesh-e). Níbhíonn sésoiléir (suh-LAY*R) -- chor ar bith (K*UHR er i). Agus preabann sé(PRAB-uhn shay*) -- go minic. I believe you, but the problem I have now is a small problem. I have trouble with the television's picture. It's not clear at all. And it jumps often.

Pól:Rinne an fear (RIN-ye un far) -- a chuir isteaché-- botún, b'fhéidir (buh-TOON, BAY*-dir). An bhfuil an leabhairín treorach (LOU-uhr-een TROHR-rahk*) -- agat? The man who installed it made a mistake, perhaps. Do you have the instruction booklet?

Bláthnaid:Táan t-ádh leat (un TAW* lat). Choinnigh méé(K*IN-ee may* ay*). Seo dhuité(shuh GIT ay*). You're in luck. I kept it. Here it is for you.

Pól:Hmm. Mórán léaráidíann (moh-RAW*N lay*r-AW*-dee oun).Ó, feach anseo! Treorach faoin aeróg (TROHR-rahk* fween ay*r-ROHG). Hmm. A lot of diagrams there. Oh, look here! Instructions on the aerial.

Sílim go bhfuil an trioblóid (trib-LOH-id) -- san aeróg. Feictear dom -- go bhfuil an aeróg seo againn (uh-GIN) -- ro-ghearr (roh YAHR). Táaeróg níos faide (nees FAD-ye) -- ag teastáil uainn (uh TAS-taw*-il WOO-in) -- go soiléir. I think that the trouble is in the aerial. It seems to me that this aerial of ours is too short. We need a longer aerial, clearly.

Bláthnaid:Cad ba cheart dúinn (kahd buh hyart DOO-in) -- a dhéanamh anois -- más ea? (maw* sha) What should we do now, then.

Pól:Táorainn (OH-rin) -- sreang mhiotail a fháil (srang VI-til uh AW*-il) -- agusía chur -- an fhuinneog amach (un in-YOHG uh-MAHK*). Bainimis triail as sin (BWIN-i-meesh TREE-il as shin). We must get a metal wire and put it out the window. Let's try that.