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Speak Irish: Scamallach!
- iIrish Admin
- November 25, 2024
- Edited 21 hours ago
Table of Contents
By Bob Carney
In the Speak Irish Cleveland classes, I have certain things that I hope to accomplish in the ten week session when absolute beginners sign up for the class. The goal is to leave the first night with the ability to use the language immediately in some manner.
We build upon that week after week, so that even if someone only plans on attending one ten week session, they will have a cúpla focal to use in their conversations.
Usually, around the fourth or fifth week, if all is going well, we’ll have a class about the weather. We learn how to describe it and to ask what kind of day it was or what it will be.
A few years back, there was a couple that signed up for the class. Jean had a granddaughter in Irish dance and wanted to learn Irish and show her support. Her husband Don was not as excited as Jean about being there, but was a good sport about his wife’s interest. I liked having Don in the class, he had a quick wit and a great sense of humor.
Anyway, it was the week after our first class on talking about the weather, when Don approached me before class and said, “Bob, I have learned everything I need to know about the Irish language.” “Really?” I replied.
“Yes. I was out with some friends and we were having some drinks. I raised my glass and said, Scamallach! And all my friends said scamallach in return before downing their drinks.”
I tried to interrupt, but Don wasn’t finished. “Later in the week, I was at the coffee shop, sitting with a group of the guys. We were having a conversation about world events when my friend asked my opinion. I stroked my beard slowly and thoughtfully and answered, scamallach.
They all thought it was something very profound and didn’t pursue the matter. So as you see, I don’t really need to learn anything else.”
Everyday Irish List
Don’s use of the language, although totally off track, was the inspiration for my Everyday Irish list that I push in the class, in this column and in the various speaking events that I give. By the way, scamallach (skom-uh lahk) is the Irish word for cloudy. Don took a word that he enjoyed saying, remembered it and used it. I hope he’s still using it and remembers what it really means.
The words that have comprised the Everyday Irish list haven’t changed very much in the six or seven years since I put it together. This month, I’ll give you the original list, but also some additions that I hope you will use as well. Hopefully, correctly!
As mentioned before, there is no singular word for yes or no in Irish. When responding to a question, you answer with the appropriate version of the verb that was used in posing the question. But, for our purpose here, using Irish words and phrases in our daily English conversations, I have included sea (shah) for yes and ní hea (nee-hah) for no.
Everyday Irish
Sea (shah) yes
Ní hea (nee hah) no
Dia duit (dee-uh gwit) hello
Dia’s Muire duit (dee-us morra gwit) response to hello
Le do thoill (led hull) please
Go raibh maith agat (gorra mah ah-gut) thank you
Fáilte (fahl-cha) welcome
Tá fáilte romhat (taw fahl-cha roe-it) you’re welcome
Maith thú (mah who) good job
Gabh mo leithscéal (guh muh lesh-shkale) excuse me
Go maith(guh mah) good
An mhaith (ahn wah) very good
Maidin mhaith (moh-jin wah) good morning
Oíche mhaith (ee-ha wah) good night
Slán (slawn) goodbye
Tráthnóna maith (trah-no-na mah) good afternoon
Maith go leor (mah guh lore) good enough
Ceart go leor (kyart guh lore) right enough/ ok
Tá brón orm (taw brahn or-um) I’m sorry
An bhfuil sé ceart go leor? (ahn will shay kyart guh lore) Is it ok?
Ta sé sin go maith. (taw shay shin guh mah) It’s good
Is maith liom é (iss mah leh may) I like it.
Tuigim (tig-um) I understand
Ní thuigim (nee hig-um) I don’t understand
An dtuigeann tú? (ahn dig-in too) Do you understand?
I like to include the previous three examples, they are all based around the root word tuig, which means understand. In the second phrase, we see an example of lenition, a softening of the word caused by the placement of the letter h after the first consonant.
In the third example, we have eclipsis, causing a change to the beginning of the word. Both changes alter the pronunciation of the word.
Tá an ceart agat (taw ahn kyart ah-gut) That’s right
Níl fhios agam (neel iss ah-gum) I don’t know.
Conas atá tú? (kuhn-uss ah-taw too) How are you?
Tá mé go maith. (taw may guh mah) I’m good.
Tá an lá go bréa. (taw ahn law guh brah) It’s a fine day.
Dia linn (dee-uh lynn) used as a blessing whe someone sneezes
Cén scéal agat? (kehn shkale ah-gut) What’s your story? What’s up?
Tóg go bog é (toeg guh bog ay) Take it easy
New Irish Words and Phrases
Cinnte (kin-ta) certainly/ sure
Ciúin (kue-in) quiet
Bí ciúin (bee kue-in) be quiet
Amadán (amah-dahn) foolish person
An-álainn (ahn ah-linn) very beautiful
Anois (ah-nesh) now
Aontaím (ayne-tame) I agree
Beagáinin (bee-gohning) a little
Ceist (kesht) question
Tá ceist agam. (taw kesht ah-gum) I have a question
Cén fáth? (kayne faw) Why?
Dada (dah-dah) nothing
Foghlaim (faw-lum) to learn
Inis dom (inish dum) tell me
Réidh (rayd) ready
Rud éigin (rud ay-ginn) something
Tá sé mar atá sé (taw shay mar ah-taw shay) it is what it is
Try to work some of these into your daily conversations. Remember “ Is fearr Gaeilge briste, na Béarla cliste.” “Broken Irish is better than clever English.”
To read more of Bob’s Speak Irish columns, click HERE
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Bob Carney
*Bob Carney is a student of Irish language and history and teaches the Speak Irish Cleveland class held every Tuesday at PJ McIntyre’s. He is also active in the Irish Wolfhound and Irish Dogs organizations in and around Cleveland. Wife Mary, hounds Rían, Aisling Draoi, and terrier Doolin keep the house jumping. He can be reached at [email protected]
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