HeyRuaHow to say “smattering of Irish” in Irish
- Irish:
- breac-Ghaeilge
- English:
- smattering of Irish
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine
- Pronunciation:
- “BRAK-gay-lig-uh” /bʲɾʲak ˈɣeːlʲɟə/
- Genitive singular:
- breac-Ghaeilge, na breac-Ghaeilge (e.g. cainteoirí breac-Ghaeilge, speakers with a smattering of Irish)
What does “breac-Ghaeilge” mean?
- smattering of Irish
- A little Irish, or broken, imperfect Irish spoken by someone who knows only some of the language.Also: broken Irish, a little Irish, some Irish.
“Breac-Ghaeilge” with the article
Here is breac-Ghaeilge after the article (an t-alt).
“Breac-Ghaeilge” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using breac-Ghaeilge, the Irish word for smattering of Irish.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Smattering of Irish in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for smattering of Irish?
The Irish for smattering of Irish is breac-Ghaeilge (pronounced “BRAK-gay-lig-uh”). It’s a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce breac-Ghaeilge in Irish?
Breac-Ghaeilge is said like “BRAK-gay-lig-uh” (IPA /bʲɾʲak ˈɣeːlʲɟə/).
Does breac-Ghaeilge have a plural?
No plural form is given for breac-Ghaeilge in the standard. Many abstract and mass nouns in Irish have no plural.
Why does breac-Ghaeilge change to bhreac-Ghaeilge or mbreac-Ghaeilge?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) breac-Ghaeilge becomes mo bhreac-Ghaeilge (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbreac-Ghaeilge (eclipsis).
What does 'breac' add to 'Gaeilge'?
'Breac' means speckled or partial, so 'breac-Ghaeilge' is patchy Irish; compare the famous saying 'Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste'.
