I am attempting to get a short phrase translated. I've visited several sites and have received 3 different translations. While they are similar they do vary slightly. Are there any fluent speakers who would be able to give a definitive answer or at least direction as to why the variations?

Phrase: "She rose from the ashes."

Translation 1: D'éirigh sí ón luaith.

Translation 2: D'éirigh sí an luaithreach.

Translation 3: D'éirigh sí as na haoibhil.

I'm not a native, but i would say:

D'éirigh sí ón luaithreach.

luaith is more the ashes from a fire eg - luaith mhóna-turf ash, luaith ghuail - coal ash

luaithreach is ashes or dust like funeral type saying 'ashes to ashes, dust to dust' etc, so i think this is the one you're trying to get, maybe not but thats what i thought.

Aoibhil comes from aoibheal which is glowing coal/ember so that isn't realy ashes

d'éirigh sí as is the construction you would use for 'to stop/leave something, eg, d'éirigh sí as a post - she left her job.

D'éirigh sí ó/de is the construction for she rose from.

I am also not native, but I think D'éirigh sí as an luaith. might be better.

"ó" means "from (point A to point B)"; "as" means "out of". Here I think the image is "out of the ashes" rather than "from the (surface of) the ashes."

aoibhil is certainly more like "embers" or "coals" as Ni_mhearnog has said.

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust" in Irish is ó luaith go luaith, ó chré go cré. (Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla (1977), Ó Dónaill; English-Irish Dictionary (1959), De Bhaldraithe)

Under féinics in Foclóir Gaedhilge agus Béarla (1927), Dineen there is a reference to san luaith for "in the ashes", rather than luaithreach.

luaithreach is "the ashes of a cremated person" and the Phoenix is said to "rise from its own ashes", so it is possibly not wrong either.

I googled "féinics luaith " and it returned both as luaith "from ashes" and "as na luaithrigh" (using the plural of luaithreach) so they may be interchangeable

- in which case the shorter one might take up less space in a tattoo. ;-)

Since a tattoo is permanent, I recommend waiting until you have confirmation from a native speaker (they do exist here, you just have to wait until they have a spare moment, that's all.)


WARNING: There is a saying among translators, "if you ask ten translators for a translation, you may get ten different translations"...

quote:

"if you ask ten translators for a translation, you may get ten different translations"...

Is fíor sin.

There are many words for ashes, and the variations of "burned results of a fire"

Translation 2 is missing a word,

D'éirigh sí as an luaithreach
or
D'éirigh sí ón luaithreach

All three are possible.

I'd tend towards "ón" if the sense is she rose from the ruins of something to do with herself; and "as an" if she is shaking off something else.
(Compare éirí ó na mairbh - to rise from the dead)

Geall le cnuasainm é an focal luaithreach, dar liom: sa luaithreach a chuirtear na fataí, luaith a bhíonns orthu nuair a bhaintear iad.

I'm a little confused from all the above posts- abundant information to wade through so bear with me.

The legend states that "The Phoenix builds itself a nest of myrrh twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again."

Would knowing this influence the translation for ashes?

My choice would be "ón" since it would be her own ashes but then I question whether to use "as an" because the ashes include the nest as well.

I hate to flog a dead horse but I have to make absolute certain the translation is correct. I don't want this on my skin forever and it not be right- I don't know how many Irish speakers I may come across in my life but the thought of being laughed at in any circumstance stinks.