An diofar eadar na mùthaidhean a rinneadh air "Expressions of Time"
Loidhne 68: | Loidhne 68: | ||
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− | That's the theory anyway. But, in colloquial usage, you'll often hear people saying things like <span style="color: #008000;"> | + | That's the theory anyway. But, in colloquial usage, you'll often hear people saying things like <span style="color: #008000;">feasgar DihAoine</span>, <span style="color: #008000;">madainn DiMàirt</span>, etc. The most common ones in colloquial usage are the expressions with <span style="color: #008000;">oidhche</span> such as <span style="color: #008000;">oidhche Luain</span>, <span style="color: #008000;">oidhche Mhàrt</span>, etc. |
==The Months== | ==The Months== |
Mùthadh on 15:00, 5 dhen Mhàrt 2017
Temporal adverbial expressions - or how to say when something happened. To start, let's take a look at the choices we have:
Adverbs of Time
These are itsy words that you can add on to a phrase or sentence to tell people when something happened.
a-bhòn-uiridh | an-uiridh | am bliadhna | an ath-bhliadhna | — | — |
the year before last | last year | this year | next year | — | — |
a-bhòin-dé | an-dé | an-diugh | a-màireach | an-earar | an-eararais |
the day before yesterday | yesterday | today | tomorrow | the day after tomorrow | three days from now |
a-bhòn-raoir | an-raoir | a-nochd | an ath-oidhche | — | — |
the night before last | last night | tonight | tomorrow night | — | — |
This does not mean that you cannot say <year after next> in Gaelic, it just means that there is no single, easy word for it. Instead you have to employ periphrastic expressions.
— | am bliadhna | an ath-bhliadhna |
— | this year | next year |
— | a-nochd | an ath-oidhche |
— | tonight | tomorrow night |
an t-seachdainn seo chaidh | an t-seachdainn-sa | an ath-sheachdain |
last week | this week | next week |
The Days of the Week
DiLuain | DiMàirt | DiCiadain | DiarDaoin | DihAoine | DiSathairne | DiDòmhnaich |
Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
Sunday is also called Latha na Sàbaid. Traditionally the usage between the two depends on your denomination. Catholics and Episcopalians use DiDòmhnaich and Presbyterians use Latha na Sàbaid. For non-denominational reasons, we prefer DiDòmhnaich because it fits in with the rest of the paradigm. Be sure to pronounce the long vowel in Sàbaid, otherwise it becomes Latha na Sabaid, 'the Day of Fighting'.
The prefix Di- is the equivalent of the English -day suffix. However, unlike English, it's the prefix that's modified to express the concepts of <Monday afternoon>, <Friday night> etc:
madainn Luain | madainn Mhàrt | madainn Chiadain | madainn arDaoin | madainn hAoine | madainn Sathairne | madainnn Dòmhnaich |
Monday morning | Tuesday morning | Wednesday morning | Thursday morning | Friday morning | Saturday morning | Sunday morning |
feasgar Luain | feasgar Màrt | feasgar Ciadain | feasgar arDaoin | feasgar hAoine | feasgar Sathairne | feasgar Dòmhnaich |
Monday afternoon | Tuesday afternoon | Wednesday afternoon | Thursday afternoon | Friday afternoon | Saturday afternoon | Sunday afternoon |
oidhche Luain | oidhche Mhàrt | oidhche Chiadain | oidhche arDaoin | oidhche hAoine | oidhche Shathairne | oidhche Dhòmhnaich |
Monday night | Tuesday night | Wednesday night | Thursday night | Friday night | Saturday night | Sunday night |
That's the theory anyway. But, in colloquial usage, you'll often hear people saying things like feasgar DihAoine, madainn DiMàirt, etc. The most common ones in colloquial usage are the expressions with oidhche such as oidhche Luain, oidhche Mhàrt, etc.
The Months
For memorisation purposes, it's useful to note that from September onwards all months are feminine in gender! There are alternate names for some of the months, but we strongly suggest you stick with the recommended ones. Learning a language is difficult enough without having to worry about having 5 different choices for one term.
Gaelic | Genitive | English | Alternate Names |
Am Faoilteach (masc.) | ... an Fhaoiltich | January | Am Faoilleach (an Fhaoillich); Mìos Marbh; Deireadh-Geamhraidh |
An Gearran (masc.) | ... a' Ghearrain | February | |
Am Màrt (masc.) | ... a' Mhàirt | March | |
An Giblean (masc.) | ... a' Ghiblein | April | |
An Céitean (masc.) | ... a' Chéitein | May | A' Mhàigh (fem.) (... na Màighe) |
An t-Ògmhios (masc.) | ... an Ògmhiosa | June | Meadhan-Samhraidh |
An t-Iuchar (masc.) | ... an Iuchair | July | Deireadh-Samhraidh; Mìos Buidhe |
An Lùnastal (masc.) | ... an Lùnastail | August | |
An t-Sultain (fem.) | ... na Sultaine | September | |
An Dàmhair (fem.) | ... na Dàmhair | October | |
An t-Samhain (fem.) | ... na Samhna | November | |
An Dùbhlachd (fem.) | ... na Dùbhlachd | December | Mìos na Nollaig |
The date in Gaelic is given in the form of the Xth day of the month. A few examples:
1st March | A' chiad latha dhen Mhàrt |
24th June | An ceathramh latha ar fhichead dhen Ògmhios |
31st September | A' chiad latha deug ar fhichead dhen t-Sultain |
22nd December | An dàrna latha ar fhichead dhen Dùbhlachd |
Individual years are said by giving the 'hundreds' first and then the 'tens', for example:
1272 | dà cheud deug * trì fichead is a dhà dheug |
1817 | ochd ceud deug * is seachd deug |
1995 | naoidh ceud deug ceithir fichead * is a cóig deug |
2000 | bliadhna dà mhìle |
2003 | dà mhìle * is a trì |
Similar to English, B.C. and A.D. are expressed as R.C. standing for ro Chrìosd and A.D. standing for as déidh Chrìosd, for example, 347 B.C. is trì ceud dà fhichead is a seachd ro Chrìosd. Optionally, sa bhliadhna can be prefixed to any date for clarification, for example, sa bhliadhna naoi ceud deug trì fichead is a ceithir <in the year 1964>.
BCE? No, we don't use it, because it's pointless. It still uses the same date as a reference point so it's no less "offensive" (???) than B.C. or A.D. and just adds to the confusion.
The Seasons
The four seasons are expressed as follows. Notice that the short form of saying <in X> differs slightly from the long form!:
spring | summer | autumn | winter |
earrach (m) gen. & pl. earraich |
an-samhradh (m) gen. samhraidh pl. samhraidhean |
foghar (m) gen. foghair pl. foghairean |
geamhradh (m) gen. geamhraidh pl. geamhraidhean |
in spring | in summer | in autumn | in winter |
as t-earrach | as t-samhradh | as t-fhoghar | anns a' gheamhradh |
in the spring | in the summer | in the autumn | in the winter |
anns an earrach | anns an t-samhradh | anns an fhoghar | anns a' gheamhradh |
The Holidays of the Year
Note that while the word for day is normally latha, in these special calendar dates this has shortened to Là.
Faoi. 1 | Là na Bliadhna Ùire | New Year's Day | Callainn (fem) (...na Callainne); Nollaig Bheag (fem.) (... na Nollaig Bige) |
Faoi. 6 | Là nan Trì Rìgh | Epiphany | Là Fhéill nan Rìgh; Féill an Taisbeanaidh |
Gearr. 2 | Là Fhéill Brìghde | Candlemas | Là Fhéill Brìghde nan Coinnlean; Là Féill Moire nan Coinnlean |
Gearr. 14 | Là Fhéill Bhaileintin | Valentine's Day | |
Gearr. | Là na Bliadhna Ùire Sìnich | Chinese New Year | |
Gearr. | DiMàirt Inid | Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day | |
Gearr. | DiCiadain na Luaithre | Ash Wednesday | |
Gearr. | An Carghas (masc.) (... a' Charghais) |
Lent | |
Màrt 1 | Là Dhàibhidh | St. David's Day | |
Màrt | Là na Màthar | Mother's Day/Mothering Sunday | |
Màrt 17 | Là Phàdraig | St. Patrick's Day | Là Fhéill Pàdraig |
Màrt | Seachdain na Càisge | Holy Week | |
Màrt | DiDòmhnaich Tùrnais | Palm Sunday | |
Màrt | DiArdaoin a' Bhrochain Mhóir | Maundy Thursday | DiArdaoin Inid |
Màrt | DihAoine na Ceusta | Good Friday | |
Màrt | A' Chàisg (fem.) (... na Càisge) |
Easter | |
Màrt | DiSathairne na Càisge | Easter Saturday | |
Màrt | A' Chàisg Mhór | Easter Sunday | Là Guileagan; Là Bàs nan Uighean; DiDòmhnaich na Càisge |
Màrt | DiLuain na Càisge | Easter Monday | |
Màrt | Co-fhad-tràth an Earraich | Vernal Equinox | |
Gibl. 1 | Là na Gogaireachd | April Fool's Day | Là Ruith na Cuthaige |
Gibl. 23 | Là Fhéill Seòrais | St. George's Day | |
Céit. 1 | Là Bealltainn | May Day/Beltane | |
Céit. | Deasghabhail (fem.) (... na Deasghabhalach) |
Ascension Day | DiArdaoin Freastail |
Céit. | Caingis (fem. indef.) | Pentecost/Whit Sunday | |
Céit. | DiDòmhnaich na Trianaid | Trinity Sunday | |
Céit. | DiArdaoin Corp Crìosda | Corpus Christi Transfiguration | |
Céit. | Là Fhéill an Earraich | Spring Bank Holiday | |
Ògmh. | Là an Athar | Father's Day | |
Ògmh. 21 | Grianstad an t-Samhraidh Là Leth an t-Samhraidh |
Summer Solstice Midsummer's Day | |
Iuch. 15 | Là Màrtainn Builg | St. Swithen's Day | |
Lùna. 1 | Lùghnasa | Lunasa (Harvest) | |
Lùna. | Là Fhéill an t-Samhraidh | Summer Bank Holiday | |
Sult. | Co-fhad-tràth an Fhoghair | Autumnal Equinox | |
Damh. 31 | Oidhche Shamhna | All Souls' Day/Hallowe'en | |
Damh. 31 Samh. 1 |
Là Samhna | Samhain | Là Fhéill Samhna |
Samh. 1 | Là nan Uile Naomh | All Saints' Day | |
Samh. 5 | Oidhche Ghuy Fawkes | Guy Fawkes' Night | |
Samh. 11 | Là nan Cuimhneachan | Rememberance Day | |
Samh. | DiDòmhnaich nan Cuimhneachan | Rememberance Sunday | |
Samh. | Aidbheint (fem.) (... na h-Aidmheint) |
Advent | |
Samh. | A' Chiad Dòmhnaich dhen Aidmheint | Advent Sunday | |
Samh. | Là na Taingealachd | Thanksgiving | Là Buidheachais an Fhoghair; Là Taingealachd an Fhoghair |
Samh. 30 | Là Chill Rìbhinn | St. Andrew's Day | |
Dùbh. 6 | Là Bodach na Nollaig | St. Nicholas' Day | |
Dùbh. 21 | Grianstad a' Gheamhraidh | Winter Solstice | |
Dùbh. | An Nollaig (fem.) (...na Nollaige) |
Christmas | |
Dùbh. 24 | Oidhche nam Bannag | Christmas Eve | Oidhche na Nollaig |
Dùbh. 25 | Là na Nollaig | Christmas Day | Là nam Bannag |
Dùbh. 26 | Boxing Day/St. Stephen's Day | ||
Dùbh. 28 | Là Fhéill nan Leanabhan Neoichiontach | Feast of the Holy Innocents | |
Dùbh. 31 | Oidhche Challainn | Hogmanay/New Year's Eve |
Other Adverbs of Time
Most adverbs are formed by the prepositon gu + ADJ, but there are a number of adverbs that have different formations:
a chaoidh | for ever (after) |
a chlisgeadh | suddenly, abruptly |
a dh'aithghearr | soon, in a short while |
a dh'oidhche | by night, at night time |
a ghnàth | habitually, always |
a h-uile turas | every time |
a h-uile uair | every time, always |
a latha | by day, at daytime |
ainneamh | seldom |
(ann) an ceartair | 1) +FUT in a moment 2) +PAST just now |
an-còmhnaidh | always, continually |
an-dràsta | now (in a more broad sense) |
an-sin | whereupon, then |
air a' mhionaid | this moment, minute |
air an uair | just now |
air chionn do ... | by the time that .... |
air ball | immediately, straightaway |
air tùs | in the beginning, at first |
air uairibh | sometimes, at times |
(am) fad is a ... | while |
am feadh | while, whilst |
a-nis | now (i.e. something is the case now that wasn't before) |
(ann) an tiota (beag) | in a twinkling, moment |
anns a' bhad | immediately, on the spot |
anns a' cheart àm | in the meanwhile |
a-rithist | again |
á seo suas | henceforward |
bho àm gu àm | from time to time, occasionally |
bho chionn aimsir | some time ago, long ago |
bho chionn ghoirid | a short while ago |
bho chionn treis | a while ago |
bho seo a-mach | henceforth |
car ùine | for a time, during a period |
(cho) fad is a ... | as long as ... |
fa dheòigh | at last |
f(h)ad is a ... | while, during |
fad na h-ùine | all the time |
ge be uair | whenever, at whichever time |
gach uair | whenever, every time |
gu bràth | forever |
gu cian nan cian | for ever and ever |
gu grad | abruptly |
gu minig | often |
gu seo | thus far, so far |
gu sìorraidh | for ever and ever |
gu tric | often |
gun dàil | immediately, without delay |
iomadh uair | often, many times |
leis sin | whereupon, with which |
mu dheireadh thall | at long last |
mu thràth (mar-thà) | already |
nas motha | no more |
ré tamaill | for a time |
ri h-ùine | by and by, with time |
thuige seo | thus far, so far |
tràth 's a ... | when |
uaireannan | at times, sometimes |
In Gaelic, adverbs of time do not require a preposition as certain English expressions do. They're simply attached at the end of the phrase, e.g.:
I saw him yesterday. | Chunnaic mi e an-dé. |
I will go there on Monday. | Théid mi ann DiLuain. |
He spent a little while there. | Bha e ann greis. |
We were there for a week. | Bha sinn ann seachdain. |
She wants to go home for a month. | Tha i ag iarraidh a dhol dhachaigh mìos. |
What did you do in the afternoon? | Dé rinn thu feasgar? |
Wait a moment! | Fuirich tiota! |
In particular, the most overused word in modern Gaelic should be avoided - airson.
Beagan gràmair | ||||||||||||
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