Christmas may be over, but winter still has a firm grip on most of the Northern Hemisphere.
If, like me, you’re sitting by the fire and waiting for spring, how about getting some mind work done by learning some words and phrases appropriate to the season?
Talking about the weather
The weather is a common topic in Ireland (as they say, if you don’t like it, wait ten minutes…it will change!). Here are some ways to talk about wintery weather in Irish (Bitesize members will also want to take a look at our lessons on Weather phenomena and Talking about the weather):
What season is it?
An geimhreadh atá ann (un GAYV-roo uh-TAH on): It’s winter.
What kind of a day is it?
Insert the appropriate word into the sentence below:
Lá ________ atá ann. (Lah _______ uh-TAH on): It’s a _______ day.
Geimhriúil (GAYV-roo-il): Wintery
Fuar (FOO-ur): Cold
Fliuch (Flyukh): Wet
Sneachtúil (SHNAKH-too-il): Snowy
Siocúil (SHUK-oo-il): Frosty
Báistiúil (BAWSH-choo-il): Rainy
Stoirmiúil (STUR-im-yoo-il): Stormy
Oighreata (EYE-ruh-tuh): Icy
Gaofar (G(w)*EE-fur): Windy
Dorcha (DUR-uh-khuh): Dark
*This “w” sound is hinted at in the shape of your lips, but isn’t said as a full “w”
What’s it doing?
Insert the appropriate word into the sentence below:
Tá sé ag cur _____. (Tah shay egg kur _____): It is ______ ing.
Sneachta (SHNAKH-tuh): Snow
Báistí (BAWSH-chee): Rain
What do you think about it?
Insert the appropriate word into whichever sentence suits you:
Is maith liom ______. (Iss my lum _____): I like ______.
Is breá liom ______. (Iss brah lum _____): I love ______.
Is fuath liom ______. (Iss FOO-uh lum _____): I hate ______.
An geimhreadh (un GAYV-roo): The winter
Aimsir gheimhriúil (AM-shir YAY-vroo-il): Wintery weather
An fuacht (un FOO-ukht): The cold
Sneachta (SHNAKH-tuh): Snow
Sioc (Shuk): Frost
Báisteach (BAWSH-chukh): Rain
What would you rather be doing?
You know the drill:
B’fhearr liom bheith ______. (Bar lum veh ______): I’d rather be _______ .
Ag súgradh sa sneachta (egg SOO-groo suh SHNAKH-tuh): Playing in the snow.
Ag tógáil fir sneachta (egg TOH-gah-il far SHNAKH-tuh): Building a snowman.
Ag sciáil (egg SHKEE-ah-il): Skiing
Ag scátáil (egg SKAH-tah-il): Skating
Ag sluaisteáil sneachta (egg SLOOSS-chah-il SHNAKH-tuh): Shoveling snow
Or, if you’re like me:
I mo shuí cois tine ag ól fuisce te! (ih muh hee kush CHIN-eh egg ohl FWISH-keh cheh): Sitting by the fireside drinking a hot whiskey!
Stay warm, everybody!
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Let us know your thoughts (about this post, or about winter!) below!
2 thoughts on “Baby, It’s Cold Outside!”
Tá sé iontach brothallach taobh amuigh. Is breá liom an séasúr seo. Pádraig.
The more time I spend reading the daily emails the easier it is for me to read posts like this and more quickly assimilate the information. I like how these phrases are relevant and provide context (and a little humor…). Keep it coming.