Focal an Lae #11
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: beo (BYOE - rhymes with Joe)
Meaning: beo = alive, living
Usage:
- Tá siad beo. (TAW SHEE-uhd BYOE) = They are alive.
- Tá siad beo bocht. (... BOXT) = They are living in poverty. (literally, they are alive poor)
- Slán beo! (SLAWN BYOE) = Take care! (lit., healthy alive!) - a nice way to sign off on a message
History: Sanskrit “jivas”, Latin “vivus”, Old Irish “béo” and Welsh “byw” all derive from the hypothetical Indo-European word *gwiwo (living).
English cognates are “vivid”, “survive” and “quick”(!).