Pronunciation Review

Similar to the vowel "ó" are the two letters "eo". When this group begins a word, it is pronounced (oh), as in "o". There is no (oo) sound at the end of it. Examples of "eo" at the beginning of a word: eolas (OH-luhs), knowledge; eorna (OHR-nuh), barley; Eochaill (OHK*-hil), Youghal, an Irish seaport; Eoin (OH-in), a form of John.

Most consonants, when before "eo", cause a (y) sound to be heard. Examples: beo (byoh), alive; ceo (kyoh), fog; deo (dyoh), end; deoir (DYOH-ir), tear; teo (tyoh), hot; ceol (kyohl), music; feoil (FYOH-il), meat; neodrach (NYOH-druhk*), neutral; geoin (GYOH-in), cry; meon (myohn), mind.

If "l, r, s" precede "eo", there is no (y) sound. Examples: leo (loh), with them; reo (roh), frost; gleo (gi-LOH), tumult; seoid (SHOH-id), jewel.

In "seo" (shuh), the "eo" does not get its customary pronunciation. In "seó", on the other hand, the "ó" receives a síneadh fada to tell us that it has the (oh) sound: (shoh).

Grammar

Another important preposition is "do" (duh), meaning "to" or "for". It is not often used for motion to a place, however. "Chuig" (hig) and "go" (guh) are more common for that.

"Do" aspirates the first consonant of the word following it, as does "ar", meaning "on". Examples: Thug médo Sheáné(hug may* duh hyaw*n ay*), I gave it to John; faigh leabhar do Cháit (feye LOU-uhr duh k*aw*t), get a book for Kate.

"Do" combines with "an" to form "don" (duhn), meaning "to the" or "for the", and it aspirates. Examples: Thug médon fhearé(hug may* duhn ar ay*), I gave it to the man; faigh peann don chailín (feye pyoun duhn k*ah-LEEN), get a pen for the girl.

With prepositions, "do" also combines to give:

dom (duhm), to me

duit (dit), to you

dó(doh), to him

di (dee), to her

dúinn (DOO-in), to us

daoibh (deev), to you, (plural)

dóibh (DOH-iv), to them

Some common forms of speech make use of "do". Here are several: Inis scéal dom (IN-ish shkay*l duhm), tell me a story

Cad is ainm duit? (kahd is AN-im dit), What is your name? Seán is ainm dom; John is my name.

Ba cheart dódul abhaile (buh hyart doh duhl uh-VWAHL-e), he should go home.

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