As a favor, could some of you tell us what an Irish child calls her grandmother? A friend here in Ohio (U.S.A.) is about to beome one, and thinks I ought to know things like this, so the question is more cultural/colloquial than the serious academic ones you're used to.

Still, your help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Hank Manning

Mamó
Nana

You could also search the archive. This question is perennial.

Thanks, Aonghus!
No further help needed. The Archive MORE than takes care of it.

Peace,
Hank

An bail céanna ortsa.

mamai mor in Donegal!

Mamaí Mhór

--

Is fearr Gaeilge cliste ná Gaeilge briste!

Is níos fearr arís a bheith béasach ná Gaeilge cliste. Náire ort!

Glacaim le do náire, a Ed! Go raibh maith agat!

Fear óg maith thú!

My son & daugher-in-law very recently became parents and thought Seanmhathair was Irish for grandmother. How is this pronounced, please?

Sean = old, pronounced "shan", as in "shack", with an "n" in place of the "ck".

Máthair = mother, pronouned "mawhur".

Seanmháthair = Shanwawhur

Thank you so much! Could you please tell me if the accent is on the 1st syllable or the 2nd? Also, I was told that the last syllable (thair) would be pronounced as in the English word "here". Is this incorrect?

Well take the following:

An english man

And then take:

An englishman


With some accents, they'll be pronounced the same, but with others, you may here "englishman" pronounced as:

an englishmun

The last syllable is deprived of all stress.

It's exactly the same with "seanmháthair". Pronounce it however you like!


As for the "thair" being pronounced as "here", if you place the stress at the back of the word, then Yes. But I myself have a Dublin, Ireland accent and we place the stress at the beginning of the word, thus the vowels of the last syllable become shortened and muffled!

Again, pronounce it however you like!