Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Irish orthography
| Contents |
Introduction
The relationship between spelling and pronunciation in Irish is somewhat tenuous; the statements on this page must be interpreted as tendencies, not hard and fast rules. Among the vowels, there are exceptions to virtually every letter/sound correspondence listed below. Exceptions in the consonants are fewer, but there are still some.
There are three dialects of spoken Irish: Ulster (now predominantly in County Donegal), Connacht (Counties Mayo and Galway), and Munster (Counties Kerry and Cork). None of these has the status of a standard pronunciation, and in schools pupils learn the pronunciation of whatever dialect is geographically closest, or else a mixture of all the dialects. In the media (e.g. the Irish language television channel TG4 and the Irish language radio station Raidió na Gaeltachta), the Connacht pronunciation is probably the most widely heard, and is therefore a good choice for a beginner, especially one outside Ireland and with no ties to one of the other dialects, to focus on.
In addition, a committee from the Linguistics Institute of Ireland devised a standardized pronunciation called the Lárchanúint ('central dialect') that was intended to become a standardized, spelling-based pronunciation. It is easy for a beginner to learn, but it is quite artificial and is almost never used by native speakers or teachers.
The alphabet
The native Irish alphabet consists of the following letters:
- a á b c d e é f g h i í l m n o ó p r s t u ú
In addition, foreign words may contain j k q v w x y z; of these, only v is at all common.
Consonants
The consonant letters generally correspond to the consonant phonemes as shown in this table. See Irish phonology for an explanation of the symbols used.
| Letter(s) | Phoneme(s) | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| b | [b], [b´] | bain [ban´] 'take' (imper.), scuab [skuəb] 'broom', béal [b´e:l] 'mouth', cnáib [kna:b´] 'hemp' |
| bh (broad) | [w] at beginning of syllable | bhain [wan´] 'took', ábhar [a:wər] 'material', Bhairbre [war´əb´r´ə] 'Barbara' (genitive), tábhachtach [ta:wəxtəx] 'important', dubhaigh [duwi:] 'blacken' (imper.) |
| [v] at end of syllable | scríobh [s´k´r´i:v] 'wrote', taobh [ti:v] 'side', dubh [duv] 'black', gabh [gav] 'get' (imper.) | |
| See vowel chart for abh, eabh, obh | ||
| bh (slender) | [v´] | bhéal [v´e:l] 'mouth' (lenited), cuibhreann [kiv´r´ən] 'common table', aibhneacha [av´n´əxə] 'rivers', sibh [s´iv´] 'you' (pl.) |
| bhf | [w], [v´] (eclipsis of f-) | bhfuinneog [win´o:g] 'window' (eclipsed), bhfíon [v´i:n] 'wine' (eclipsed) |
| bp | [b], [b´] (eclipsis of p-) | bpoll [bo:l] 'hole' (eclipsed), bpríosún [b´r´i:su:n] 'prison' (eclipsed) |
| c | [k], [k´] | cáis [ka:s´] 'cheese', mac [mak] 'son', ceist [k´es´t´] 'question', mic [m´ik´] 'sons' |
| ch (broad) | [x] (always broad before t) | cháis [xa:s´] 'cheese' (lenited), taoiseach [ti:s´əx] 'chieftain' (also the term for the Prime Minister of Ireland), boichte [boxt´ə] 'poorer' |
| ch (slender) | [x´] [h] between vowels | cheist [x´es´t´] 'question' (lenited), deich [d´ex´] 'ten' oíche [i:hə] 'night' |
| d | [d], [d´] | dorn [do:rn] 'fist', nead [n´ad] 'nest', dearg [d´arəg] 'red', cuid [kid´] 'part' |
| dh (broad) | [ɣ] word-initially silent after a long vowel | dhorn [ɣo:rn] 'fist' (lenited), ádh [a:] 'luck' |
| See vowel chart for adh, eadh, odh. See section on special pronunciations in verb forms for -dh at the end of verbs. | ||
| dh (slender) | [j] | dhearg [jarəg] 'red' (lenited), fáidh [fa:j] 'prophet' |
| See vowel chart for aidh, eidh, idh, oidh. See section on special pronunciations in verb forms for -(a)idh at the end of verbs. | ||
| dt | [d], [d´] (eclipsis of t-) | dtaisce [das´k´ə] 'treasure' (eclipsed), dtír [d´i:r´] 'country' (eclipsed) |
| f | [f], [f´] | fós [fo:s] 'still', graf [graf] 'graph', fíon [f´i:n] 'wine', stuif [stif´] 'stuff' |
| See also special pronunciations in verb forms for -f- in future and conditional tenses | ||
| fh | silent (lenition of f-) | fhuinneog [in´o:g] 'window' (lenited), fhíon [i:n] 'wine' (lenited) |
| g | [g], [g´] | gasúr [gasu:r] 'boy', bog [bog] 'soft', geata [g´atə] 'gate', carraig [karəg´] 'rock' |
| gc | [g], [g´] (eclipsis of c-) | gcáis [ga:s´] 'cheese' (eclipsed), gceist [g´es´t´] 'question' (eclipsed) |
| gh (broad) | [ɣ] (word-initially) silent after a long vowel | ghasúr [ɣasu:r] 'boy' (lenited), Eoghan [o:ən] 'Owen' |
| See vowel chart for agh, ogh. | ||
| gh (slender) | [j] | gheata [jatə] 'gate' (lenited), dóigh [do:j] 'way, manner' |
| See vowel chart for aigh, eigh, igh, oigh. See section on special pronunciations in verb forms for -(a)igh at the end of verbs. | ||
| h | [h] (no broad/slender distinction) | hata [hatə] 'hat', na héisc [nə he:s´k´] 'the fish' (plural) |
| l, ll | [l], [l´] | luí [li:] 'lying (down)', poll [po:l] 'hole', leisciúil [l´es´k´u:l´] 'lazy', coill [kail´] 'woods' |
| m | [m], [m´] | mór [mo:r] 'big', am [a:m] 'time', milis [m´il´əs´] 'sweet', im [i:m´] 'butter' |
| mb | [m], [m´] (eclipsis of b-) | mbaineann [man´ən] 'takes' (eclipsed), mbéal [m´e:l] 'mouth' (eclipsed) |
| mh (broad) | [w] at beginning of syllable [v] at end of syllable | mhór [wo:r] 'big' (lenited), lámha [la:wə] 'hands' léamh [l´e:v] 'reading' |
| See vowel chart for amh, eamh, omh | ||
| mh (slender) | [v´] | mhilis [v´il´əs´] 'sweet' (lenited), uimhir [iv´ər´] 'number', nimh [n´iv´] 'poison' |
| n, nn | [n], [n´] | naoi [ni:] 'nine', ceann [k´a:n] 'head', neart [n´art] 'strength', tinneas [t´in´əs] 'illness' |
| nd | [n], [n´] (eclipsis of d-) | ndorn [no:rn] 'fist' (eclipsed), ndearg [n´arəg] 'red' (eclipsed) |
| ng | [ŋ], [ŋ´] initially(eclipsis of g-) | ngasúr [ŋasu:r] 'boy' (eclipsed), ngeata [ŋ´atə] 'gate' (eclipsed) |
| [ŋg], [ŋ´g´] internally and finally | long [lu:ŋg] 'ship', teanga [t´aŋgə] 'tongue', cuing [kiŋ´g´] 'yoke', ingear [iŋ´g´ər] 'vertical' | |
| [-ən´] in final -ing | scilling [s´k´il´ən´] 'shilling' | |
| p | [p], [p´] | poll [po:l] 'hole', stop [stop] 'stop', príosún [p´r´i:su:n] 'prison', truip [trip´] 'trip' |
| ph | [f], [f´] | pholl [fo:l] 'hole' (lenited), phríosún [f´r´i:su:n] 'prison' (lenited) |
| r, rr | [r], [r´]. Always broad word-initially. Always broad in rr, rt, rth, rd, rn, rl, sr. | rí [ri:] 'king', barr [ba:r] 'tip, point', cuairt [kuərt´] 'visit', oirthear [orhər] 'east', airde [a:rd´ə] 'height', coirnéal [ko:rn´e:l] 'corner', duirling [du:rl´ən´] 'stony beach', sreang [sraŋg] 'string' tirim [t´ir´əm´] 'dry' |
| s | [s], [s´]. Always broad word-initially before p, m. | Sasana [sasənə] 'England', tús [tu:s] 'beginning', sean [s´an] 'old', cáis [ka:s´] 'cheese', speal [sp´al] 'scythe', sméar [sm´e:r] 'blackberry' |
| sh | [h] (no broad/slender distinction) | Shasana [hasənə] 'England' (lenited), shean [han] 'old' (lenited) |
| [x´] when lenited from [s´a:-, s´o:-, s´u(:)-] | Sheáin [x´a:n´] 'John' (genitive), sheol [x´o:l] 'sailed', shiúil [x´u:l´] 'walked', shiopa [x´upə] 'shop' (lenited) | |
| t | [t], [t´] | taisce [tas´k´ə] 'treasure', ceart [k´art] 'correct', tír [t´i:r´] 'country', beirt [b´ert´] 'two (people)' |
| See also special pronunciations in verb forms for -t- in verbal adjectives | ||
| th | [h] (no broad/slender distinction) | thaisce [has´k´ə] 'treasure' (lenited), athair [ahər´] 'father' |
| [x´] when lenited from [t´a:-, t´o:-, t´u(:)-] | theann [x´a:n] 'tight' (lenited), theocht [x´o:xt] 'heat' (lenited), thiúilip [x´u:l´əp´] 'tulip' (lenited), thiocfadh [x´ukəx] 'would come', thiubh [x´uv] 'thick' (lenited) | |
| Silent at the end of a syllable | bláth [bla:] 'blossom', cith [k´i] 'shower', cothrom [korəm] 'equal' | |
| See also special pronunciations in verb forms for -th- in verbal adjectives | ||
| ts | [t], [t´] (special lenition of s- after an 'the') | an tsolais [ən toləs´] 'of the light', an tSín [ən t´i:n´] 'China' |
| v | [v], [v´] | vóta [vo:tə] 'vote', veidhlín [v´ail´i:n´] 'violin' |
Vowels
The following chart indicates how written vowels are generally pronounced. Each dialect has certain divergences from this general scheme. In the Context column, C stands for a broad consonant and C´ for a slender consonant.
| Letter(s) | Phoneme | Context | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| a (stressed) | [a] | (C)_C | fan [fan] 'stay' (imper.) abair [abər´] 'say' (imper.) |
| [a:] |
| tarlú [ta:rlu:] 'happening' carnán [ka:rna:n] '(small) heap' garda [ga:rdə] 'policeman' mall [ma:l] 'slow, late' ann [a:n] 'there' barr [ba:r] 'tip, point' am [a:m] 'time' | |
| a (unstressed) | [ə] | C_(C) | ólann [o:lən] 'drink' (present) mála [ma:lə] 'bag' |
| á | [a:] | (C)_C | bán [ba:n] 'white' ábhar [a:wər] 'material' amadán [aməda:n] 'idiot' |
| abh(a(i)) (stressed) | [au] | (C)_ | abhainn [aun´] 'river' cabhrach [kaurəx] 'helpful' |
| adh(a(i)) (stressed) | [ai] | (C)_ | adhairt [airt´] 'pillow' Tadhg [taig] (man's name) |
| adh (unstressed) | [ə] | word-final position in nouns | margadh [marəgə] 'market' |
| See also "Special pronunciations in verb forms" | |||
| ae | [e:] | (C)_C | Gaelach [ge:ləx] 'Gaelic' aerach [e:rəx] 'gay' |
| aei | [e:] | (C)_C´ | Gaeilge [ge:l´g´ə] 'Irish (language)' aeistéitic [e:s´t´e:t´ək´] 'aesthetics' |
| agh(a(i)) | [ai] | (C)_ | aghaidh [aij] 'face' saghsanna [saisənə] 'sorts, kinds' |
| ai (stressed) | [a] | (C)_C´ | baile [bal´ə] 'home' aibí [ab´i:] 'ripe' |
| [a:] |
| airne [a:rn´ə] 'sloe' caillte [ka:l´t´ə] 'lost, ruined' crainn [kra:n´] 'trees' | |
| ai (unstressed) | [ə] [i] (before th) | C_C´ | eolais [o:ləs´] 'knowledge' (genitive) beannaithe [b´anihə] 'blessed' |
| ái | [a:] | (C)_C´ | dáil [da:l´] 'assembly' áireamh [a:r´əv] 'counting' gabháil [gava:l´] 'taking' |
| aí | [i:] | C_C´ | maígh [mi:j] 'claim' (imper.) gutaí [guti:] 'vowels' |
| aidh, aigh (stressed) | [ai] | (C)_C´ | aidhm [aim´] 'aim' saighdiúir [said´u:r´] 'soldier' |
| aidh, aigh (unstressed) | [i:] | C_ | cleachtaidh [k´l´axti:] 'practice' (genitive) bacaigh [baki:] 'beggar' (genitive) |
| See also Special pronunciations in verb forms" | |||
| aío | [i:] | (C)_C | naíonán [ni:na:n] 'infant' aíonna [i:nə] 'guests' beannaíonn [b´ani:n] 'blesses' |
| [iə] | (C)_[xt] | aíocht [iəxt] 'hospitality' íocaíocht [i:kiəxt] 'paying' | |
| amh(a(i)) | [au] | (C)_ | Samhain [saun´] 'November' amhantar [auntər] 'venture' ramhraigh [rauri:] 'fattened' |
| ao | [i:] | (C)_C | saol [si:l] 'life, world' aosta [i:stə] 'aged' |
| [e:] | In the word aon 'one' and its derivatives | aon [e:n] 'one' aontacht [e:ntəxt] 'union' na Stáit Aontaithe [nə sta:t´ e:ntihə] 'the United States' | |
| aoi | [i:] | (C)_C´ | gaois [gi:s´] 'shrewdness' Aoife [i:f´ə] (woman's name) |
| e (stressed) | [e] | C´_ | te [t´e] 'hot' |
| e (unstressed) | [ə] | C´_ | míle [m´i:l´ə] 'thousand' le [l´ə] 'with' |
| é | [e:] | (C´)_ | sé [s´e:] 'he' é [e:] 'him' |
| ea (stressed) | [a] | (C´)_C | bean [b´an] 'woman' eagar [agər] 'arrangement, order' gearradh [g´arə] 'cutting' |
| [a:] |
| bearna [b´a:rnə] 'gap' feall [f´a:l] 'treachery' feanntach [f´a:ntəx] 'severe' | |
| ea (unstressed) | [ə] | C´_C | seisean [s´es´ən] 'he' (emph.) |
| éa | [e:] | (C´)_C | déanamh [d´e:nəv] 'doing' éan [e:n] 'bird' buidéal [bid´e:l] 'bottle' |
| eá | [a:] | C´_C | Seán [s´a:n] 'John' caisleán [kas´l´a:n] 'castle' |
| eabh(a(i)) | [au] | (C´)_ | leabhair [l´aur´] 'books' Feabhra [f´aurə] 'February' eabhar [aur] 'ivory' |
| eadh(a(i) (stressed) | [ai] | C´_ | meadhg [m´aig] 'whey' |
| -eadh (unstressed) | [ə] | word-final position in nouns | briseadh [b´r´is´ə] 'breaking' |
| See also "Special pronunciations in verb forms" | |||
| eai | [a] | C´_C´ | veain [v´an´] 'van' |
| eái | [a:] | C´_C´ | meáin [m´a:n´] 'middles' caisleáin [kas´l´a:n´] 'castles' |
| eamh(a(i)) | [au] | C´_ | sleamhain [s´l´aun´] 'smooth' leamhnacht [l´aunəxt] 'new milk' |
| ei | [e] | (C´)_C´ | ceist [k´es´t´] 'question' eile [el´ə] 'other' |
| [i] | before m, mh, n | creimeadh [k´r´im´ə] 'corrosion, erosion' geimhreadh [g´iv´r´ə] 'winter' seinm [s´in´əm´] 'playing' | |
| [e:] | before rl, rn, rd | eirleach [e:rl´əx] 'destruction' ceirnín [k´e:rn´i:n´] 'record album' ceird [k´e:rd´] 'trade, craft' | |
| [ai] | before syllable-final ll | feill- [f´ail´] 'exceedingly' | |
| [i:] | before syllable-final nn and word-final m | greim [g´r´i:m´] 'grip' | |
| éi | [e:] | (C´)_C´ | scéimh [s´k´e:v´] 'beauty' Éire [e:r´ə] 'Ireland' páipéir [pa:p´e:r´] 'papers' |
| eidh(i/ea), eigh(i/ea) | [ai] | C´_ | feidhm [f´aim´] 'function' leigheas [l´ais] 'healing' |
| eo | [o:] | (C´)_C | ceol [k´o:l] 'music' eolaí [o:li:] 'scientist' baileofar [bal´o:fər] 'one will gather' |
| eoi | [o:] | C´_C´ | dreoilín [d´r´o:l´i:n´] 'wren' baileoimid [bal´o:m´əd´] 'we will gather' |
| i (stressed) | [i] | (C´)_C´ | pic [p´ik´] 'pitch' ifreann [if´r´ən] 'hell' |
| [i:] |
| cill [k´i:l´] 'church' cinnte [k´i:n´t´ə] 'sure' im [i:m´] 'butter' | |
| i (unstressed) | [ə] (so transcribed for the sake of consistency with other unstressed vowels; phonetically it's the same as [i]) [i] (before th) | C´_C´ | faoistin [fi:s´t´ən´] 'confession' bailitheacht [bal´ihəxt] 'boredom' |
| í | [i:] | (C´)_C´ | gnímh [g´n´i:v´] 'act, deed' (gen.) ídiú [i:d´u:] 'consuption' cailín [kal´i:n´] 'girl' |
| ia | [iə] | (C´)_C | Diarmaid [d´iərməd´] (man's name) iasc [iəsk] 'fish' |
| iai | [iə] | (C´)_C´ | bliain [b´l´iən´] 'year' iaidín [iəd´i:n´] 'iodine' |
| idh, igh (unstressed) | [i:] | C´_ | brisidh [b´r´is´i:] 'breaking' (gen.) coiligh [kel´i:] 'rooster' (gen.) |
| See also "Special pronunciations in verb forms" | |||
| io | [i] | before coronals and th | fios [f´is] 'knowledge' bior [b´ir] 'spit, spike' cion [k´in] 'affection' giota [g´itə] 'bit, piece' giodam [g´idəm] 'restlessness' friotháil [f´r´iha:l´] 'attention' |
| [u] | before noncoronals | siopa [s´upə] 'shop' liom [l´um] 'with me' tiocfaidh [t´uki:] 'will come' Siobhán [s´uwa:n] 'Joan' briogáid [b´r´uga:d´] 'brigade' tiomáin [t´uma:n´] 'drive' (imper.) ionga [uŋgə] '(finger)nail' | |
| [i:] | before syllable-final nn | fionn [f´i:n] 'light-haired' | |
| ío | [i:] | (C´)_C | síol [s´i:l] 'seed' íoc [i:k] 'pay' (imper.) |
| [iə] | C´_ [xt] | filíocht [f´il´iəxt] 'poetry' | |
| iu | [u] | C´_C | fliuch [f´l´ux] 'wet' |
| iú | [u:] | (C´)_C | siúl [s´u:l] 'walk' iúl [u:l] 'knowledge' bailiú [bal´u:] 'gathering' |
| iúi | [u:] | (C´)_C´ | ciúin [k´u:n´] 'quiet' Iúil [u:l´] 'July' inniúil [in´u:l´] 'able, fit' |
| o (stressed) | [o] | C_C | post [post] 'post' |
| [u] | before n, m | Donncha [dunəxə] (man's name) cromóg [krumo:g] 'hooked nose' | |
| [o:] |
| bord [bo:rd] 'table' orlach [o:rləx] 'inch' poll [po:l] 'hole' corr [ko:r] 'odd' | |
| [u:] |
| fonn [fu:n] 'desire, inclination' trom [tru:m] 'heavy' long [lu:ŋg] 'ship' | |
| o (unstressed) | [ə] | C_(C) | mo [mə] 'my' cothrom [korəm] 'equal' |
| ó | [o:] | (C)_C | póg [po:g] 'kiss' ór [o:r] 'gold' armónach [arəmo:nəx] 'harmonic' |
| obh(a(i)), odh(a(i)), ogh(a(i)) | [au] | C_ | lobhar [laur] 'leper' bodhar [baur] 'deaf' rogha [rau] 'choice' |
| oi (stressed) | [e] | (C)_C´ | scoil [skel´] 'school' troid [tred´] 'fight' (imper.) coileach [kel´əx] 'rooster' toitín [tet´i:n´] 'cigarette' soilse [sel´s´ə] 'lights' oibre [eb´r´ə] 'work' (gen.) thoir [her´] 'in the east' coicís [kek´i:s´] 'fortnight' cloiche [klehə] 'stone' (gen.) |
| [o] | before s, cht, rs, rt, rth | cois [kos´] 'foot' (dat.) cloisfidh [klos´i:] 'will hear' boicht [boxt´] 'poor' (gen. sg. masc.) doirse [dors´ə] 'doors' goirt [gort´] 'salty' oirthear [orhər] 'east' | |
| [i] | next to n, m, mh | anois [ə|nis´] 'now' gloine [glin´ə] 'glass' cnoic [knik´] 'hills' roimh [riv´] 'before' coimeád [kim´a:d] 'keep' (imper.) loinge [liŋ´g´ə] 'ship' (gen.) | |
| [ai] | before syllable-final ll | coill [kail´] 'forest, woods' coillte [kail´t´ə] 'forests' | |
| [i:] | before syllable-final nn and word-final m | foinn [fi:n´] 'wish' (gen.) droim [dri:m´] 'back' | |
| [o:] | before rl, rn, rd | coirnéal [ko:rn´e:l] 'corner' oird [o:rd´] 'sledgehammers' | |
| oi (unstressed) | [ə] | C_C´ | éadroime [e:drəm´ə] 'lightness' |
| ói | [o:] | (C)_C´ | móin [mo:n´] 'sod, turf' óige [o:g´ə] 'youth' bádóir [ba:do:r´] 'boatman' |
| oí | [i:] | (C)_C´ | croíleacán [kri:l´əka:n] 'core' oíche [i:hə] 'night' |
| oidh(i/ea), oigh(i/ea) | [ai] | (C)_ | oidhre [air´ə] 'heir' loighic [laik´] 'logic' |
| oío | [i:] | C_C | croíonna [kri:nə] 'hearts' |
| omh(a(i)) | [o:] | C_ | tomhail [to:l´] 'consume' (imper.) Domhnach [do:nəx] 'Sunday' |
| u (stressed) | [u] | (C)_C | dubh [duv] 'black' ullamh [uləv] 'ready' |
| [o] | In English loanwords, corresponds to [ʌ] | bus [bos] club [klob] | |
| [u:] | before rl, rn, rd | burla [bu:rlə] 'bundle' murnán [mu:rna:n] 'ankle' urlár [u:rla:r] 'floor' | |
| u (unstressed) | [ə] | C_C | agus [agəs] 'and' |
| ú | [u:] | (C)_C | tús [tu:s] 'beginning' úr [u:r] 'fresh, new' |
| ua | [uə] | (C)_C | fuar [fuər] 'cold' uan [uən] 'lamb' |
| uai | [uə] | (C)_C | fuair [fuər´] 'got' uaine [uən´ə] 'green' |
| ui (stressed) | [i] | (C)_C´ | duine [din´ə] 'person' uisce [is´k´ə] 'water' |
| [u] | before cht, rs, rt | tuirseach [turs´əx] 'tired' cluichte [kluxt´ə] 'harassment' (gen.) | |
| [i:] |
| tuillteanach [ti:l´t´ənəx] 'deserving' puinn [pi:n´] 'much' suim [si:m´] 'interest' | |
| [u:] | before rl, rn, rd | duirling [du:rl´ən´] 'stoney beach' tuirne [tu:rn´ə] 'spinning wheel' | |
| ui (unstressed) | [ə] [i] (before th) | C_C´ | aguisín [agəs´i:n´] 'addition' scrúduithe [skru:dihə] 'examinations' |
| úi | [u:] | (C)_C´ | súil [su:l´] 'eye' úim [u:m´] 'harness, gear' cosúil [kosu:l´] 'like, resembling' |
| uí | [i:] | C_C´ | buígh [bi:j] 'turn yellow' (imper.) |
| uío | [i:] | C_C | buíon [bi:n] 'band, troop' |
The epenthetic vowel
In a sequence of short vowel + [l/r/n] + labial or velar consonant an unwritten [ə] gets pronounced between the [l/r/n] and the following consonant.
- Examples: gorm [gorəm] 'blue'; dearg [d´arəg] 'red'; dorcha [dorəxə] 'dark'; ainm [an´əm´] 'name'; seanchaí [s´anəxi:] 'storyteller'; leanbh [l´anəv] 'child'; colm [koləm] 'dove'
There is no epenthesis before voiceless stops or after long vowels and diphthongs: corp [korp] 'body'; olc [olk] 'bad'; téarma [t´e:rmə] 'term'; dualgas [duəlgəs] 'duty'
Special pronunciations in verb forms
Some letters and letter combinations are pronounced differently in verb forms than elsewhere.
- In the imperfect, conditional, and imperative, -dh is pronounced [t] before a pronoun beginning with s-
| mholadh sé | [wolət s´e:] | 'he used to praise' |
| bheannódh sibh | [v´ano:t s´iv´] | 'you (pl.) would bless' |
| osclaíodh sí | [oskli:t s´i:] | 'let her open' |
- Otherwise it is pronounced [x]
| mholadh an buachaill | [woləx ə buəxəl´] | 'the boy used to praise' |
| bheannódh na cailíní | [v´ano:x nə kal´i:n´i:] | 'the girls would bless' |
| osclaíodh Siobhán | [oskli:x s´uwa:n] | 'let Siobhán open' |
- In the preterite impersonal, -dh is pronounced [v]
| moladh é | [moləv e:] | 'he was praised' |
| beannaíodh na cailíní | [b´ani:v nə kal´i:n´i:] | 'the girls were blessed' |
- -(a)idh and -(a)igh are pronounced [ə] before a pronoun, otherwise [i:]
| molfaidh mé | [molhə m´e:] | 'I will praise' |
| molfaidh Seán | [molhi: s´a:n] | 'Seán will praise' |
| bheannaigh mé | [v´anə m´e:] | 'I blessed' |
| bheannaigh Seán | [v´ani: s´a:n] | 'Seán blessed' |
- In the future and conditional, f (broad or slender) has the following effects:
- After vowels and sonorants ([l m n r]) it is pronounced [h]:
| molfaidh | [molhi:] | 'will praise' |
| dhófadh | [ɣo:həx] | 'would burn' |
| déarfaidh | [d´e:rhi:] | 'will say' |
- It makes a voiced obstruent ([b v d g]) voiceless:
| scuabfadh | [skuəpəx] | 'would sweep' |
| goidfidh | [get´i:] | 'will steal' |
| leagfadh | [l´akəx] | 'would lay' |
| scríobhfaidh | [s´k´r´i:fi:] | 'will write' |
| shnámhfadh | [hna:fəx] | 'would swim' |
- It is silent after a voicless obstruent ([k x p s t])
| brisfidh | [b'r'is'i:] | 'will break' |
| ghlacfadh | [ɣlakəx] | 'would accept' |
- But in the future and conditional impersonal f is always [f(´)]
| molfar | [molfər] | 'one will praise' |
| dhófaí | [ɣo:fi:] | 'one would burn' |
| scuabfar | [skuəbfər] | 'one will sweep' |
| brisfear | [b´r´is´f´ər] | 'one will break' |
- In the verbal adjective th (also t after d) is silent but makes a voiced obstruent voiceless
| scuabtha | [skuəpə] | 'swept' |
| troidte | [tret´ə] | 'fought' |
| ruaigthe | [ruək´ə] | 'chased' |
See also
10-26-2009 08:16:03
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The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details