Focal an Lae #44
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: focal (FO-kuhl)
Meaning: focal = word
Usage:
- cúpla focal (KOOP-luh FO-kuhl) = a few words (the amount of rish that any Irishman can produce, if pressed)
- focal ar fhocal (FO-kuhl ehr O-kuhl) = word for word
- Níor fágadh focal agam! (NEER FAW-goo FO-kuhl AH-guhm) = I was left speechless! (lit., (there) wasn’t a word left at-me)
History: Old Irish “focull” was borrowed from Latin “vocabulum” (name, noun), from the verb “vocare” (to call),
which comes ultimately from *wokw-ā-, the suffixed o-grade of the Indo-European root *wekw- (to speak).
Cognates in English are “vocal” and “voice”.
Scottish Gaelic: facal