Irish Lesson 8

PRONUNCIATION
You may have wondered about the meaning of the letters "bhf" in "bhfuil". The basic word is "fuil" (fwil), but Irish speakers change the (f) sound by using the vocal cords, or humming, while they pronounce the "f", causing a (v) sound.

Certain words and phrases, such as "an" or "nach", or "ar an" (er un), which means "on the", bring about this change. They also cause the speaker to close off the flow of air somewhat for other consonants, altering the sound to a nasal hum: "d" becomes "n", and "b" becomes "m". The changes are called "eclipsis", but you will learn them easily from the reference list below. You already know the sounds themselves. "Ár" (aw*r) means "our" and is one of the words that cause eclipsis in following initial consonants.

bia,ár mbia (BEE-uh, aw*r MEE-uh) food, our food

cistin,ár gcistin (KISH-tin, a*wr GISH-tin) kitchen, our kitchen

deis,ár ndeis (desh, aw*r nesh) opportunity, our opportunity

fear,ár bhfear (far, aw*r var) man, our man

peata,ár bpeata (PAT-uh, aw*r BAT-uh) pet, our pet

tír,ár dtír (teer, aw*r deer) country, our country

pócaí,ár bpócaí(POH-kee, aw*r BOH-kee) pockets, our pockets

talamh,ár dtalamh (TAH-luhv, aw*r DAH-luhv) land, our land

bád,ár mbád (baw*d, ar*r maw*d) boat, our boat

cótaí,ár gcótaí(KOH-tee, aw*r GOH-tee) coats, our coats

dóthain,ár ndóthain (DOH-hin, aw*r NOH-hin) enough, enough for us

fáinne,ár bhfáinne (FAW*-nye, aw*r VAW*-nye) ring, our ring

One more, which will be a little harder for you to pronounce at first, although you know the individual sounds from English:

When eclipsed, the initial letter "g" takes the sound of "ng" that is at the end of the English word "sung". This is a little difficult at first to put before a word. Try this:ár ngeata (aw*rng A-tuh), our gate. Join the (aw*r) sound to the (ng) sound, saying it separately at first and then adding on the (A-tuh). Try "ár ngairdín" (aw*rng ahr-DEEN). Practice on:ár ngluaisteán (aw*rng LOOSH-taw*n), our auto;ár ngrá(aw*rng raw*), our love;ár nguí(aw*rng ee), our prayer;ár ngúnaí(aw*rng OON-ee), our dresses.

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Irish Lesson 7	\|	VOCABULARY

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