Focal an Lae #6
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: pós (POHS)
Meaning: pós = marry
Usage: Verbs are shown in Irish dictionaries in the imperative singular,
which for almost all verbs is identical with the verb root. “Pós!”
by itself means “Marry!” or “Get married!” Other forms:
- Phós mé. (FOHS may) = I got married.
- Níor phós mé. (NEE-uhr FOHS may) = I didn’t get married.
- Tá mé pósta. (TAW may POHS-tuh) = I am married.
- Níl mé pósta. (NEEL may POHS-tuh) = I’m not married.
History: Pós is not a native Celtic word. It was borrowed into Irish
from Early French “espouser” or a similar form, descended from Latin
“sponsare”, which in turn comes from the Indo-European root *spend- (to bind oneself by a ritual act).
Cognates are “spouse” and “sponsor”.
(I chose today’s word in recognition of Ireland’s neck-and-neck divorce
referendum, the results of which are still not known as I write this.)