Clíodhna Campbell
BEANNACHTAÍ na Bealtaine oraibh uilig. Tá mé cinnte go bhfuil gach duine sásta as an saoirse atá again anois, ach tá fhios agam féin go chronaím an ciúineas cheanna féin.
I’m sure everybody is glad of the freedom we now have, but I know myself that I miss the quiet already. Here are some phrases that might come in handy (all pronunciation shared is in the Ulster dialect):
Bhuail mé le mo chairde sa ghairdín beorach.
Woo-al may le maw hard-je sa gharr-jean be-yoar-ach.
I met my friends in the beer garden
Bhuail mé le mo chairde sa chaife.
Woo-al may le maw hard-je sa haff-ay.
I met my friends in the café.
Bhí lón deas againn.
V lone jass uh-geen.
We had a nice lunch.
An dtig liom beor a ordú le do thoil?
Ann jig lum be-yoar a ord-ew le daw hull?
Can I order a beer please?
An dtig leat beor a ordú dom le do thoil?
Ann jig lat be-yoar a ord-ew do le daw hull?
Can you order me a beer please?
Ar ordaigh tú beor dom?
Air ord-ee too be-yoar do?
Did you order me a beer?
Tá mé scriosta anois.
Tah may skriss-ta ann-ish.
I am wrecked now.
Traochta—tree-awk-tah—exhausted
Spíonta—spee-on-tah—exhausted
Cé go bhfuil muid uilig tógtha faoi bheith ábalta pionta a ól, nó béile a ithe le chairde, creidim go bhfuil sé tharr a bheith tabhachtach dúinn am suaimhneach a choinneáil ar an chlár ama, fréisin.
Although we are all excited about being able to drink a pint, or eat a meal with friends, I believe that it is of the utmost importance to keep those peaceful moments on the timetables, too.
So here’s one you might want to practice:
Níor mhaith, go raibh maith agat.
Near Yh go row my-h ugg-ut.
No thanks.
Picking up on describing ourselves and others, here is the next set of phrases to add to your pack:
| 1 | Tá mé… | tah may | I am |
| Níl mé… | nail may | I’m not | |
| Tá tú… | tah too | You are | |
| Níl tú… | nail too | You aren’t | |
| 2 | láidir | lah-jir | strong |
| lag | lag | weak | |
| ramhar | rah-wer | fat | |
| tanaí | tan-ee | thin | |
| glan | glann | clean | |
| salach | sal-awk | dirty | |
| go han-mhaith | go han-Yh | very well |
I am strong, you are weak—Tá mé láidir, tá tú lag.
I am not fat, you are not thin—Níl mé ramhar, níl tú tanaí.
I am clean, you are dirty—Tá mé glan, tá tú salach.
I am not bad now—Níl mé go dona anois.
I’m well today—Tá mé go maith inniu.
You’re well again?—Tá tú go maith arís?
I am very well now—Tá mé go han-mhaith anois.
It’s a bad day. Are you cold?—Tá an lá go dona. An bhfuil tú fuar?
No, indeed, I’m not cold at all—Níl, maise, níl mé fuar ar chor ar bith.
Clíodhna Campbell is a teacher, language enthusiast and mother. If you would like to get in touch with her with any linguistic queries, e-mail: cliodhnamorgan@live.co.uk
PIC: LIAM McKAY
