I want to translate the word "breathe" (the context being that sometimes you have to remind yourself to breathe). I am not sure if would need to be a command or if there is just one word for it. Would it be something like "tarraing anáil" or is there a better translation?

GRMA.

BethRua

Anáil a tharraingt. Sin a déarfainnse.

Tá briathar "análú" ann freisin.
análú [ainm briathartha][ainmfhocal firinscneach]
anáil a tharraingt agus a ligean amach.

M. ORD.
análaím
análaigh
análaíodh sé
análaíodh sí
análaímis
análaígí
análaídís
Sb.
análaítear

Chuir d'iarratas amhrán i gcuimhne dom, a Beth Rua. Here are some of the lyrics from the Spillane/de Paor song "Rugadh Orm i gCorcaigh":

Ní thánag anuas leis an mbáisteach,
Tarraing anáil, tarraing anáil,
Ní thánag anuas leis an mbáisteach,
Tarraing anáil go héasca,
Ní thánag anuas leis an mbáisteach,
Coinnigh do sheile,
Coinnigh do dheoir,
A Chríost na bhFlaitheas in airde,
Tarraing anáil isteach is amach,
Tarraing anáil más féidir.

I am still wading through the first couple of translations (having almost no Irish under my belt at this time), but I can understand "Spillane/de Paor" (However, the words I am translating make me wonder exactly what the song is saying since I can only catch a third of the words, mostly parts of the body). Coincidently, I am attending NUIG next fall to get my MA and Louis de Paor is the program director. Small world, I guess (or not really, given the type of people and topics in this forum). Further translations/explanations of your posts would be helpful.

Thanks for your help, and any more English words in your posts would be welcomed.

GRMA.

(Message edited by beth.rua on December 14, 2006)

Does anyone else have any translations (and an English explanation) for the word "breathe"? Further explanations would be very helpful.

GRMA.

BethRua

Tá briathar "análú" ann freisin.
There is also a verb "analú"

análú [ainm briathartha][ainmfhocal firinscneach]
[verbal noun][masculine noun]
anáil a tharraingt agus a ligean amach.
To draw and release breath

M. ORD.
Imperative Mode:
análaím
análaigh
análaíodh sé
análaíodh sí
análaímis
análaígí
análaídís
Sb.
Passive (Saor briathar)
análaítear

How does "ionanálaigh" translate? I think it means breathe, but I want to check. I also commonly see "análaigh", "análú", and "análaithe" in online dictionaries. I am looking for the best translation because I might use it for a tattoo and obviously want it right. Please write any explanations in English because I can't afford to misunderstand the posts.

GRMA.

http://www.focal.ie/Search.aspx?term=ionan%C3%A1laigh

ionanálaigh is "to inhale" and is a technical term.

The verb "to breathe" is análaigh, for which analú is the verbal noun; I have given you all the imperative forms above, twice.

Thank you Aonghus. I just want to make sure that no one disputes what you have said. I need to make sure the translation is correct and accepted by more than one person.

The way things are around here, if no one else posts, they don't disagree!

But unless you intend a single word tatoo, give us the whole lot to check for safety!

I am planning a single word if it translates correctly. Would you suggest I use "análaigh" or should it be conjugated? Thanks for all of your input Aonghus.

Sorry, it is already conjugated. It's been a long day and I didn't look at my post. But it is a one-word tattoo, so I will stick with "análaigh" unless someone else tells me otherwise in the next few days.

If you mean to command the reader to breathe, then yes.

But maybe

Passive (Saor briathar)
análaítear

would be better

This could be translated as "Let it be that breathing happens"

Aonghus (and anyone else who will give me some input),

I was posting on another site to get a second opinion since no one has posted one here, and the person who was most helpful in his correspondence wrote this:

The passive voice makes no sense in this context. "Análaigh" is what makes sense here...the imperative voice...since you're telling yourself to "breath."

Do you agree with that view or should the passive be used?

Can anyone else who reads this give their opinion so I can see if there is a general consensus?

GRMA.

It's your choice. It depends on whether you want to use the second person singular, or command people in general.

That's sort-of what the other guy said. He said that either I can remind myself to breathe (análaigh) or simply express a hope that I remember to breathe (análaítear). Is that how you view it as well? It is meant to be something I can look at to remind myself to slow down and take time to breathe.

Má theastaíonn uait "Don't run" a rá, is féidir leat rá: Ná rith / Ná rithigí

Má theastaíonn uait "No running" a rá, is féidir leat rá: Ná ritear

Ach sí an t-aon fhadhb amháin leis sin ná gur doiléir an t-idirdhealúchán idir "Don't run" agus "No running", idir "Don't smoke" agus "No smoking"...

Perhaps you would be better served by the wish form, i.e. "may I breathe"

M. FOSH. LÁITH.
go n-análaí mé
go n-análaí tú
go n-análaí sé
go n-análaí sí
go n-análaímid
go n-análaí sibh
go n-análaí siad
Sb.
go n-análaítear

quote:

I want to translate the word "breathe" (the context being that sometimes you have to remind yourself to breathe).

You don't mean that literally, I hope! You do mean, I assume, "take a deep breath", or "breath slowly" or some other act of conscious control. You might just as well use the noun -- terse and simple and general -- in that case:

Anáil = Breath (i.e., focus on your breath)

The imperative "análaigh" all by itself comes across to me as somehow clinical and cold.

No, not literally. You know how sometimes you get so busy that you have to consciously make yourself slow down (in a sense, tell yourself to breathe)? That's what I mean. I am moving in a few months and beginning a new chapter of my life. I know I will be overwhelmed and very busy, so I want a reminder that life's too short and you have to take time out for yourself (in this case, remind myself to "breathe") or you will not enjoy life.

I hope that makes sense for everyone trying to help me with this translation.

I am also thinking I might use "strength" (not physical strength, but emotional strength or strength of character). I will be forced to be strong (being all alone and living a whole new life) so that would also be a fitting tattoo. I have been told "neart" is a good translation for "strength" but I'd like that confirmed a few more times before it goes on in ink. I think it is less ambiguous than "breathe" and thus might be a better choice for a tattoo.

GRMA for all of your help and please keep giving me your opinions.

"Neart" is fine for "strength". There's another word, less well known but very old, that is still in use:

gus = "force, vigour, resource, enterprise, spirit, gumption"

There is a compact, calligraphic, almost ideographic looking rendering of the word, from a text in the Book of Leinster, at:

http://quidnunc.net/~garyi/noda/notae.html

Scroll down until you get to "us" in the left column, then look right.

quote:

No, not literally. You know how sometimes you get so busy that you have to consciously make yourself slow down (in a sense, tell yourself to breathe)? That's what I mean. I am moving in a few months and beginning a new chapter of my life. I know I will be overwhelmed and very busy, so I want a reminder that life's too short and you have to take time out for yourself (in this case, remind myself to "breathe") or you will not enjoy life.

The phrase you describe sounds like what we say in Ireland: Take a breather

I like the idea of "gus" for strength. I am still unsure of the best word for "breathe," but I will keep searching and hopefully getting more opinions. GRMA for your help thus far and have a great holiday.

What you need is the calm, relaxivity of na cainteoírí duchais by the sea, with noting better to do than fix nets

A BhRN,

I think that is what we all need.

Beir bua agus beannacht

A BhRN,

I think that is what we all need.

Beir bua agus beannacht

Oops.