Role-play
Sinéad:
A Oisín, inis dom faoi do theaghlach.
Oisín, tell me about your family.
Oisín:
Tá mé pósta.
I am married.
Tá mé i mo chónaí le mo bhean chéile agus mo chlann.
I live with my wife and children.
Cad fútsa?
How about you?
Sinéad:
Tá mé colscartha agus tá beirt pháistí agam.
I am divorced and I have two children.
Tá mé i mo chónaí i m’aonar. I live alone.
Tá mo leanaí ag maireachtaint lena n-athair.
My children live with their father.
Cé mhéad páiste atá agat féin?
How many children do you have yourself?
Oisín:
Tá iníon amháin agus triúr mac agam.
I have one daughter and three sons.
Tá na buachaillí ag freastal ar an meánscoil áitiúil. The boys are attending the local secondary school.
Is tréidlia nuacháilithe í m’iníon, Niamh. Tá sí geallta. My daughter Niamh is a newly qualified vetinary surgeon. She is engaged.
Sinéad:
Tuigim. Agus cá bhfuil cónaí uirthi? I understand. And where does she live?
Oisín:
Tá sí féin agus a páirtí ina gcónaí ag baile linne fad is atá na pinginí á gcur i dtaisce acu le dul ar imirce go dtí an Astráil. She and her partner are living at home with us whilst they save up to emigrate to Australia.
Bhí Niamh ag obair ar fheirm chaorach thall ann anuraidh. Niamh was working on a sheep farm over there last year.
Cén aois iad do pháistíse, a Shinéad? What ages are your children, Sinéad?
Sinéad:
Tá mo mhac, Feargal, deich mbliana d’aois agus tá m’iníon, Aoife, trí bliana déag.
My son, Feargal, is ten years old and my daughter, Aoife, is thirteen.
Caitheann Feargal formhór a chuid ama sa chlós scátála lena chairde. Feargal spends most of his time in the skate park with his friends.
Oisín:
Cad mar gheall ar Aoife? What about Aoife?
Sinéad:
Imríonn Aoife cispheil le foireann na scoile, agus tá dúil mhór aici san aisteoireacht stáitse. Aoife plays basketball with the school team, and has a great interest in stage acting.
Beidh sí ag glacadh páirte i léiriú den dráma ‘Translations’ le Brian Friel an mhí seo chugainn. She will be participating in a production of Brian Friel’s play ‘Translations’ next month.
Oisín:
Is léir nach mbíonn sí díomhaoin, bail ó Dhia uirthi! Evidently, she does not be idle, God prosper her!
Agus an bhfuil deartháireacha agus deirfiúracha agat? And do you have brothers and sisters?
Sinéad:
Tá deirfiúr agus deartháir agam.
I have a sister and a brother.
Tá mo dheartháir Tomás agus a theaghlach ina gcónaí sa teach béal dorais liom. Tá seachtar clainne aige! My brother and his family live in the house next door to me. He has seven children!
Oisín:
A thiarcais! My goodness!
Sinéad:
Creid uaim é, ní bhím riamh uaigneach. Bíonn neacht nó nia éigin an doras chugam isteach gach aon chúpla nóiméad! Believe you me, I am never lonely. Some nephew or niece does be in the door to me every second minute!
Role-play with phonetics
Sinéad:
A Oisín, inis dom faoi do theaghlach. /Ah ush-een, in-ish dum fwee duh hi-lukh/Oisín, tell me about your family.
Oisín:
Tá mé pósta. /Taw may poh-stah/ I am married.
Tá mé i mo chónaí le mo bhean chéile agus mo chlann. /Taw may ih muh khoh-nee leh muh van khay-lah a-guss muh khlawn/ I live with my wife and children.
Cad fútsa? /Kod foot-sa/ How about you?
Sinéad:
Tá mé colscartha agus tá beirt pháistí agam. /Taw may kul-skar-hah a-guss taw bertch faw-shtee a-gum/ I am divorced and I have two children.
Tá mé i mo chónaí i m’aonar. /Taw may ih muh khoh-nee ih may-nur/ I live alone.
Tá mo leanaí ag maireachtaint lena n-athair. / Taw muh lah-nee egg mahr-okh-tint leh-nah nah-hirr /My children live with their father.
Cé mhéad páiste atá agat féin? /Kay vayd pawsh-teh a-taw a-gut fayne/ How many children do you have yourself?
Oisín:
Tá iníon amháin agus triúr mac agam. /Taw in-yeen a-wawn a-guss troor mok a-gum/ I have one daughter and three sons.
Tá na buachaillí ag freastal ar an meánscoil áitiúil./Taw nuh boo-ach-ill-ee egg frah-stil air un maan-skuh-ill awe-it-ool/The boys are attending the local secondary school.
Is tréidlia nuacháilithe í m’iníon, Niamh. Tá sí geallta. /Iss tray-id-lee-ah noo-ah-caw-ill-ih-heh ee min-ee-un, Nee-av. Taw shee gee-owl-tuh/My daughter Niamh is a newly qualified vetinary surgeon. She is engaged.
Sinéad:
Tuigim. Agus cá bhfuil cónaí uirthi?/Thig-imm. Ah-guss caw will khoe-nee ihr-hih/I understand. And where does she live?
Oisín:
Tá sí féin agus a páirti ina gcónaí ag baile linne fad is atá na pinginí á gcur i dtaisce acu le dul ar imirce go dtí an Astráil./Thaw shee fay-inn a-guss ah paw-ir-tee inn-ah goh-nee egg boh-ill-ah fod iss ah-thaw nuh ping-inn-ee awe gurr ih dah-ish-kuh ah-kuh khun dull air imm-irr-kheh guh dee un ah-straw-ill/She and her fiancé are living at home with us whilst they save up to emigrate to Australia.
Bhí Niamh ag obair ar fheirm chaorach thall ann anuraidh./Vee Nee-uv egg uh-bir air err-im khwae-ur-ukh howl ow-un ah-nuhr-igg/Niamh was working on a sheep farm over there last year.
Cén aois iad do pháistíse, a Shinéad?/Kayne eesh ee-ud duh faw-isht-ee-sheh ag hin-aye-id/What ages are your children, Sinéad?
Sinéad:
Tá mo mhac, Feargal, deich mbliana d’aois agus tá m’iníon, Aoife, trí bliana déag./Thaw muh vok fur-gull deh mlee-en-ah deesh ah-guss taw min-ee-un ee-fah tree blee-en-a jayg/My son, Feargal, is ten years old and my daughter, Aoife, is thirteen.
Caitheann Feargal formhór a chuid ama sa chlós scátála lena chairde./Koh-hun fur-gull fur-vore ah khwid ah-mah suh khlose skaw-taw-lah leh-mah khaw-ir-deh/Feargal spends most of his time in the skate park with his friends.
Oisín:
Cad mar gheall ar Aoife?/Khod marr yowl air ee-fah/What about Aoife?
Sinéad:
Imríonn Aoife cispheil le foireann na scoile, agus tá dúil mhór aici san aisteoireacht stáitse./Imm-ree-unn ee-fah kish-feh-ill leh fwirr-enn nuh skuh-ill-leh ah-guss thaw doo-ill voor ah-kih sunn ah-ish-toe-ir-ucht stawe-it-sheh/Aoife plays basketball with the school team, and has a great interest in stage acting.
Beidh sí ag glacadh páirte i léiriú den dráma ‘Translations’ le Brian Friel an mhí seo chugainn./Beg shee egg glah-kuh paw-irr-teh ih lay-ir-oo den draw-mah Translations leh Brian Friel un vee shuh khoo-inn/ She will be participating in a production of Brian Friel’s play ‘Translations’ next month.
Oisín:
Is léir nach mbíonn sí díomhaoin, bail ó Dhia uirthi!/Iss lay-irr nokh mee-unn shee dee-uh-vween bah-ill owe yee-ah irr-hih/Evidently, she does not be idle, God prosper her!
An bhfuil deartháireacha agus deirfiúracha agat? /On wil dreh-hawr-ukha ah-guss dreh-foor-akha a-gut/ Do you have brothers and sisters?
Sinéad:
Tá deirfiúr agus deartháir agam. /Thaw dreh-foor a-guss dreh-hawr a-gum/ I have a sister and a brother.
Tá mo dheartháir Tomás agus a theaghlach ina gcónaí sa teach béal dorais liom. Tá seachtar clainne aige! /Thaw muh yuh-hawr a-guss ah hy-lokh ih-nah gow-nee suh tokh bay-ill durr-ish lyum. Thaw shok-thurr klinn-neh egg-eh/ My brother and his family live in the house next door to me. He has seven children!
Oisín: A thiarcais!/ah hee-urr-kish/My goodness!
Sinéad:
Creid uaim é, ní bhím riamh uaigneach. Bíonn neacht nó nia éigin an doras chugam isteach gach aon chúpla nóiméad! /Kred woo-imm aye nee veem ree-av ooh-ig-nukh. Bee-unn nakth no nee-ah ay-ginn un dur-uss khoo-imm ish-tokh gokh ay-unn khoo-pluh no-may-udd/Believe you me, I am never lonely. Some nephew or niece does be in the door to me every second minute!
Useful Vocabulary
Tá mé i mo chónaí le mo thuismitheoirí.
/Taw may ih muh khoh-nee leh muh hish-mih-hoh-ree./
I live with my parents.
Tá mé i mo chónaí le mo fhear céile agus mo chlann.
/Taw may ih muh khoh-nee leh muh arr kay-leh a-guss muh khlon./
I live with my husband and children.
| Tá mé pósta. /Taw may poh-sta/ I am married. | Tá mé singil. /Taw may shin-gill/ I am single. |
| scartha /skar-ha/ separated | in aontíos /in ayn-cheess/ cohabiting |
| Tá buachaill agam. /Taw boo-khel a-gum/ I have a boyfriend. | Tá cailín agam. /Taw kol-een a-gum/ I have a girlfriend. |
Tá triúr deartháireacha agam.
/Taw troor dreh-hawr-ukh-a a-gum/
I have three brothers.
Tá __________ agam.
/Taw _________ a-gum/
I have _______.
| athair /ah-her/ father | máthair /maw-her/ mother |
| deirfiúr /drif-oor/ sister | deartháir /dreh-haw-ir/ brother |
| mac /mok/ son | iníon /in-yeen/ daughter |
| neacht /nyokht/ niece | nia /nee-a/ nephew |
| cliamhain /klee-van/ son-in-law | bean mic /ban mik/ daughter-in-law |
| páirtí /pawr-chee/ partner | cara /kor-a/ friend |
Grammar Notes
Sinéad:
A Oisín, inis dom faoi do theaghlach.
Oisín, tell me about your family.
do theaghlach – séimhiú/lenition follows “do” (your)
agh, adh, igh, idh = i sound (middle of word)
teaghlach =- family (household)
aghaidh = face
fadhb = problem
Oisín:
Tá mé pósta.
I am married.
Tá mé i mo chónaí le mo bhean chéile agus mo chlann.
I live with my wife and children.
Cad fútsa?
How about you?
pós = to marry
Tá mé i mo chónaí… (Lesson)
Tá tú i do chónaí… (You’re in your living)
Tá sé ina chónaí… (He’s in his living)
Tá sí ina cónaí… (She’s in her living)
Tá muid inár gcónaí… (We’re in our living) Tá siad ina gcónaí… (They are in their living)fear céile – husband (companion man)
le chéile = togetherclann – family (offspring) or clan
Teaghlach – family (household)fútsa = emphatic form of “fút” (about/under you) from “faoi” (about/under)
Sinéad:
Tá mé colscartha agus tá beirt pháistí agam.
I am divorced and I have two children.
Tá mé i mo chónaí i m’aonar.
I live alone.
Tá mo leanaí ag maireachtaint lena n-athair.
My children live with their father.
Cé mhéad páiste atá agat féin?
How many children do you have?
col – degree of relationship
eg. col ceathrair/ceathar = first cousin
scartha = separated, from “scar” = to separateTá ___ agam. = I have ___.
beirt = two people (followed by séimhiú)
ag maireachtaint (Munster)/Ag maireachtáil (Conamara/Ulster) = living (verbal noun of the verb mair – “to live”)
páiste = child
Cé mhéad? = How many? Followed by singular form of noun.
Oisín:
Tá iníon amháin agus triúr mac agam.
I have one daughter and three sons.
Tá na buachaillí ag freastal ar an meánscoil áitiúil. The boys are attending the local secondary school.
Is tréidlia nuacháilithe í m’iníon, Niamh. Tá sí geallta. My daughter Niamh is a newly qualified vetinary surgeon. She is engaged.
___ amháin = one (thing/person)
triúr = three people (followed by the genitive plural)
Lesson on Counting PeopleIs tréidlia í – The copula is used to talk about things that are permanent or unlikely to change, such as gender and profession. The verb bí (“to be”) is used to specify less permanent states or qualities. Is fear é – He is a man Tá sé tuirseach – He is tired
cáilithe = qualified. This is the verbal adjective of the verb cáiligh (“to qualify”)
nuacháilithe = newly qualified láncháilithe = fully qualified neamhcháilithe = unqualified scrúdú cáilithe = qualifying examination
geall = to promise
“Tá báisteach geallta” = Rain is forecast (promised)
Sineád:
Tuigim. Agus cá bhfuil cónaí uirthi? I understand. And where does she live?
uirthi = prepositional pronoun in third-person feminine singular of ar (“on; in; at”).
Bhris an gol uirthi – “she broke into tears”
Oisín:
Tá sí féin agus a páirtí ina gcónaí ag baile linne fad is atá na pinginí á gcur i dtaisce acu le dul ar imirce go dtí an Astráil. She and her partner are living at home with us whilst they save up to emigrate to Australia.
Bhí Niamh ag obair ar fheirm chaorach thall ann anuraidh . Niamh was working on a sheep farm over there last year.
Cén aois iad do pháistíse, a Shinéad? What ages are your children, Sinéad?
linne = prepositional pronoun in plural first-person of le (“with;to;for;by’against”)
fad is = whilst
ar fheirm – the preposition ar causes séimhiú on the following noun when that noun is a specific place. person or rank (post or station in life). Tá hata ar Phól – Paul is wearing a hat (lit. there is a hat on Paul) Bronnadh an corn ar chaptaen na foirne – the cup was bestowed on the captain of the team. The preposition ar does not cause séimhiú when: .. time is being specified (ar maidin – in the morning) …a state or condition is being talked about (ar meisce – drunk, ar fionraí – suspended) …a general place/location is involved (ar farraige – at sea ) Note that things can change if the noun is qualified.
do pháistíse= your children (example of emphatic form of the noun used in conjunction with the possessive adjective) do pháistí – do pháistí (non-emphatic form)
A Shinéad > Sinéad – an tuiseal gairmeach / vocative case
Sinéad:
Tá mo mhac, Feargal, deich mbliana d’aois agus tá m’iníon, Aoife, trí bliana déag.
My son, Feargal, is ten years old and my daughter, Aoife, is thirteen
bliain amháin
dhá bhliain
trí bliana – sé bliana
seacht mbliana – deich mbliana
Caitheann Feargal formhór a chuid ama sa chlós scátála lena chairde. Feargal spends most of his time in the skate park with his friends
clós (yard) + scátáil (skate) = clós scátála
lena chairde – le combines with the possessive pronoun a to produce lena
Oisín:
Cad mar gheall ar Aoife? What about Aoife?
mar gheall = about Can also mean “because of” e.g.”bhí sé fliuch báite mar gheall ar an mbáisteach” (he was soaking wet because of the rain).
Sinéad:
Imríonn Aoife cispheil le foireann na scoile, agus tá dúil mhór aici san aisteoireacht stáitse. Aoife plays basketball with the school team, and has a great interest in stage acting.
Beidh sí ag glacadh páirte i léiriú den dráma ‘Translations’ le Brian Friel an mhí seo chugainn. She will be participating in a production of Brian Friel’s play ‘Translations’ next month.
dúil = (noun, f) desire. fondness, liking, craving In its verbal noun form, dúil can also be used to express hope or expectation e.g. “tá siad ag dúil lena gcuid” (they are waiting to be fed) or “táimid ag dúil abhaile leis” (we expect him home).
aici = prepositional pronoun in plural first-person singular female of ag (“at”)
Oisín
An bhfuil deartháireacha agus deirfiúracha agat?
Do you have brothers and sisters?
deartháireacha = /jer-har-ukha/ (Ulster),
/drawr–uh-khee/(Connacht),
/dreh-hawr–ukha/(Munster)
(Sound recording: both in Conamara Irish)deirfiúracha= /jer-eh-foor–ukha/ (Ulster),
/dref-ru-khee/ or /drow-er-ukha/(Connacht),
/drif-oor–ukha/(Munster)
Sinéad:
Tá deirfiúr agus deartháir agam.
I have a sister and a brother.
Tá mo dheartháir Tomás agus a theaghlach ina gcónaí sa teach béal dorais liom. Tá seachtar clainne aige! My brother and his family live in the house next door to me. He has seven children.
deirfiúr = /jer-eh-foor/ (Ulster),
/dre-fer/ or /drow-er/(Connacht), /drif-oor/(Munster)
(Sound recordings)deartháir = /jer-har/ (Ulster), /dreh-hur/(Connacht), /dreh-hawr/(Munster)
(Sound recordings)seachtar clainne = “seven of a family”. Clann is in the genitive singular.
Oisín:
A thiarcais! My goodness!
a thiarcais! – thought to be a minced oath for “a Thiarna!” (oh Lord!)
Sinéad:
Creid uaim é, ní bhím riamh uaigneach. Bíonn neacht nó nia éigin an doras chugam isteach gach aon chúpla nóiméad! Believe you me, I am never lonely. Some nephew or niece does be in the door to me every second minute!
creid uaim é = literally “believe from me it.”
riamh = ever/never/before and always An raibh tú i ngrá riamh? – Were you ever in love? Ní bhíonn sé fuar riamh – He is never cold Bhí sí riamh gealgháireach agus meisce uirthi – she was always cheerful when drunk. Riamh nó iariamh – before or after
gach aon chúpla nóiméad – aon causes séimhiu (but not on ‘d’, ‘s’ or ‘t’)
aon duine= any person / anybody
gach aon duine = every person / everybody
Questions
Inis dom faoi do theaghlach.
An bhfuil tú i do chónaí i d’aonar?
An bhfuil páistí agat?
An bhfuil leanaí fásta agat? (Do you have grown-up children?).. Má tá, cá bhfuil cónaí orthu? (If you do, where do they live?)
An bhfuil neacht nó nia agat?
An bhfuil tú pósta?
???? Teagascóir: Am i gcóir pictiúr den ngrúpa.