Irish Blog

Two new terms caught my attention this post-Thanksgiving shopping season, giving us now a trio of shopping catchphrases designed to encourage all of us to spend more money, be it in the boscaí móra, (big boxes), siopaí miondíoltóirí neamhspleácha (shops of independent retailers), or ar líne (online).  “Aoine Dhubh” has been around for a few decades, but “Aoine an Bhreacáin” and “Cibearluan” are quite recent. 

“Aoine Dhubh” (Black Friday) is the oldest of these terms, dating back at least to the seascaidí (1960s).  Although the phrase may give an imprisean gruama (gloomy impression), it actually reflects the optimism of American merchants that this particular day will turn a gcaillteanais (their losses) into a mbrabúis (their profits) and their bookkeeping ink will change from dearg (red) to dubh (black).  The term does have a sort of éifeacht fhritorthúil (counterproductive effect) though, I think, since it may also conjure up images of sluaite móra (big crowds), línte fada (long lines), tranglálacha tráchta (traffic snarls), and táinrití daoine (stampedes of people).  The Friday after American Thanksgiving, though not a saoire Fheidearálach (Federal holiday), is a holiday for most schools and universities and many businesses (except retail).  It is the day of huge lascainí réamh-Nollaig (pre-Christmas discounts) and a day on which all are encouraged to shop.  Admittedly, there’s not much precedence for this phrase in Irish, since an American holiday is involved, but it’s a coincheap suimiúil (interesting concept), at any rate.

The two more recent developments are Aoine an Bhreacáin and Cibearluan, but, given the length of this blog plus its notes, it seems these should wait for an “aguisín” to this blog, to be sent shortly. 

Nótaí: iar- [EE-ur] after-, post-, ex-, as in iar-uachtarán, past-president; fritorthúil [FRIH-TOR-hoo-il] counter-productive, with fhritorthúil [RIH-TOR-hoo-il] as a feminine form; trangáil, a snarl, clutter, or tangle, not a dog’s snarl, which is drannadh; feidearálach gets a feminine form here, fheidearálach [EDJ-ar-awl-ukh]; coincheap [KIN-hyep]; breacán, plaid, tartan.

Táinrith is an interesting term. “Táin” means “driving cattle” or the cattle themselves.  It can also be an expedition for plunder or the plunder itself.  “Rith” means “running.”  So, literally, the Irish word for “stampede” is “cattle-running,” an interesting comparison to the English “stampede,” which comes from Mexican Spanish, estampida, itself related to estampar (to press), German stampfen (to stamp or press), and English “stamp.”   

Slua, host, crowd, pl. sluaite.  Incidentally, this is the origin of the word “slew,” widely used in America for a large group of people.  One colleague of mine, a native Gàidhlig speaker from Lewis, said she hadn’t heard this used in English until she came to North America.  She recognized it right away, since Scottish Gaelic has the same basic word, spelled “sluagh.”  Apparently “slua” entered American English via Irish emigration to North America. 

An Mháirt, agus dhá lá go Lá an Altaithe.  Séasúr na dTurcaithe sna Stáit. Turcaithe sna fógraí ar an teilifís.  Pardún uachtaráin do thurcaí ámharach amháin ar an nuacht.  Duine i gculaith turcaí ag bualadh a sciathán taobh thiar de thuairisceoir na haimsire ar maidin.  B’fhéidir duine eile i gculaith turcaí ina sheasamh taobh amuigh de sheomra taispeántais carranna ag iarraidh cur ar shúile na ndaoine ag dul an bealach go bhfuil lascaine Lá an Altaithe ann.  Go díreach mar a dhéanfaidh Coiníní Cásca ar thomhas daonnaí um Cháisc. Bhuel, is jab é agus caithfidh duine éigin é a dhéanamh!   Pluis, abú! 

B’fhéidir Little Eva ag canadh “C’mon an’ Turkey Trot,” popamhrán ó na seascaidí.  Gach duine ag “caint turcaí.”  Sin breaceolas ar cheiliúradh Shéasúr na dTurcaithe i Meiriceá.  Ó, agus a bheith ag altú!

Á, a lucht dhílis léite an bhlag, ní raibh sé ar intinn agam é sin a scríobh i nGaeilge amháin, ach cad is féidir liom a rá?  Bhí mé ag imeacht as mo chraiceann le háthas ag smaoineamh ar an ábhar.  Seo an miondealú!  Dear blog-readers, I didn’t really intend to write the whole passage in Irish, but what can I say?  I just got carried away thinking about the topic – here’s the breakdown:

An Mháirt, agus dhá lá go Lá an Altaithe: Tuesday, and two days till Thanksgiving

Séasúr na dTurcaithe sna Stáit: Turkey Season in the States

Turcaithe sna fógraí ar an teilifís: Turkeys in the ads on television

Ar an nuacht — pardún uachtaráin do thurcaí ámharach amháin: In the news – a presidential pardon for one lucky turkey

Duine i gculaith turcaí ag bualadh a sciathán taobh thiar de thuairisceoir na haimsire ar maidin: A person in a turkey costume flapping his wings behind the weather forecaster this morning

B’fhéidir duine eile i gculaith turcaí ina sheasamh taobh amuigh de sheomra taispeántais carranna ag iarraidh cur ar shúile na ndaoine ag dul an bealach go bhfuil lascaine Lá an Altaithe ann: Perhaps someone else in a turkey costume standing outside a car showroom trying to let passersby know that there’s a great Thanksgiving discount

Go díreach mar a dhéanfaidh Coiníní Cásca ar thomhas daonnaí um Cháisc: Just like the human-sized Easter Rabbits will do around Easter

Bhuel, is jab é agus caithfidh duine éigin é a dhéanamh!   Well, it’s a job and someone’s “gotta” do it! 

Pluis, abú!  Plush rules! (Well, a bit more literally, “Plush forever!,” from the old Irish battle cry)   

B’fhéidir Little Eva ag canadh “Let’s Turkey Trot,” popamhrán ó na seascaidí:

Maybe Little Eva singing “Let’s Turkey Trot,” a 1960s pop song 

Gach duine ag “caint turcaí:” Everyone talking “turkey”   

Sin breaceolas ar cheiliúradh Shéasúr na dTurcaithe i Meiriceá: That’s a smattering of information about celebrating Turkey Season in America. 

Ó, sea, agus a bheith ag altú!  Oh, yes, and giving thanks!

Nótaí: an Mháirt [un WAWRTCH] Tuesday, lit. “the Tuesday;” bualadh [BOO-uh-luh] beating; taobh thiar de [teev HEE-ur djeh] in back of; b’fhéidir [BAYDJ-ir, silent f and h] perhaps; culaith, costume; lascaine, discount; ar thomhas daonnaí [err HOHSS DEEN-ee] lit. on the size of a human being; caithfidh [KAH-hee, silent th, f, and dh] must; pluis [plish]; abú [ah-BOO] forever; ar cheiliúradh [err HYEL-yur-uh]

For years, I wondered what the best way would be to say “Thanksgiving Day” or “Happy Thanksgiving!” i nGaeilge.  Since it’s not a traditional holiday in Ireland, or Europe in general for that matter, there is no real precedent for this particular phrase. 

I’ve experimented with several versions, and since the advent of Google, I’ve checked ar líne from time to time to see what others are using.  Prior to ready access to the Idirlíon, it wasn’t easy to check up on these types of questions. 

Torthaí?

Lá an Altaithe – 44 hits (use of the definite article is almost “gob ar ghob” with the version without the definite article)

Lá Altaithe – 45 hits

Lá Buíochais – 5 hits

an Lá Gabhála Buíochais – 1 hit (but found by “guided browsing,” not by “Google”)

The first two options come from the verb “altaigh” (give thanks, generally implying to God), which has the verbal noun form “altú” (to give thanks, giving thanks, act of giving thanks).  Put the verbal noun in its possessive form (for the idea of “of Thanksgiving”) and you get “altaithe.” 

“Buíochas” means “thanks” or “gratitude” and here is in the possessive, so it has an extra “i.”  In its “root” form, it’s really widely used in the phrase “Buíochas le Dia” (thank God, or as many say, “Thanks be to God,” lit. “thanks with God).

The idea of using “gabháil” (taking, giving, catching, invading, seizing, assuming, accepting, srl., srl.!) or “gabhála,” its possessive form, seems definitely in the minority in this small sample, so I’d recommend using one of the shorter forms. 

As for the “Happy” part?  Again, these are all basically by analogy, since there’s no traditional precedent.  Most straightforward is “sona,” as we also see in the phrases “Lá Breithe Sona duit” or “Nollaig Shona duit.”  Why “sona” in some cases and “shona” in others?  “Sona” is used for masculine nouns and “shona” for feminine ones.  This refers to the key noun in the phrase, like “lá” for “lá breithe.”  I’ve seen “shona” used for “Happy Birthday” all over the Internet, but there’s no real reason for lenition here.  For “Happy Thanksgiving,” the same rule applies, with “sona” modifying “lá” itself, not “altaithe” or “buíochais.”  Christmas (Nollaig) is feminine, hence “Nollaig Shona.”

Two other options are “faoi shéan” and “faoi mhaise,” basically meaning, literally, “under happiness / prosperity” and “adorned / under adornment.”  The latter is typically used for “Happy New Year!” – “Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise!”  Note that for “Happy” New Year, we’re not really using the adjective “happy.”  Sometimes these phrases are doubled up for New Year’s (Athbhliain faoi Shéan agus faoi Mhaise.”  But more on that ar an 31ú lá de mhí na Nollag!

You may have been wondering how the well known phrase, “Go raibh maith agat” (thank you) fits into all this.  It doesn’t really, except thematically.  “GRMA,” as many write it now, literally means “may there be good at you,” so it doesn’t actually use the verb “to thank” or the noun “gratitude.”  It is however, I’d venture, much more widely used than the verb “altaigh / altú,” since we use it constantly in daily conversation.  “Altú” does show up in various phrases, certainly, but not like GRMA.  Some examples are “ag altú buí” (saying grace) and “deoch altaithe” (a drink at the end of a meal).   

And just “ar son cuimsitheachta,” I’ll note here that Thanksgiving, as such, is celebrated both i Meiriceá agus i gCeanada, albeit on different days.  I’ve seen it described ar an Idirlíon as a “100% American holiday.”  So I hope this blog will be of interest to lucht labhartha na Gaeilge ó Thalamh an Éisc go dtí an Cholóim Bhriotanach agus Yukon. 

Next up, cranberries et al. i nGaeilge.  I’ve still never found an Irish equivalent for “succotash,” which we should be eating at this time of year in honor of na hIndiaigh who helped the Pilgrims survive their first year in America.  Much “food for thought”!