I saw "In America" last evening, and in one place in the movie the young Irish woman tells her neighbor something in Gaeilge. The thing that confuses me is that she is pronouncing the color "dubh" as the English "dove" (the bird) is pronounced. Now, I KNOW (or think I do) that "u" is a broad vowel, and I THOUGHT the rule was that this makes the "bh" have it's broad pronunciation. Is this not so? Can someone explain what's going on here to me?

When learning language, 'Bí ullamh' as the scouts say, 'be prepared' to meet anything! 'Ní bhítear mar a shíltear' - things are not as one expects them to be.

Renderings of 'dubh' may not be unlike 'dove', 'doo' and plain 'dih'.

If you just keep noticing as you did in this instance, you shall get in on the act. Using a good course book, matters like this shall be dealt with as you progress.

Slán go fóill.

Okey dokey. Go raibh maith agat, Seosamh. Tá cineáltas ort. (Did I murder that?)

Tá tú cineálta!