Focal an Lae #106
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: ionadh (EE-uh-nuh) [iːnə]
Meaning: ionadh = wonder, surprise
Usage:
- Is ionadh liom go bhfuil tú anseo! (iss EE-uh-nuh lyoom guh WIHL too uhn-SHO) [is iːnə l′um gə vil′ tuː əns′o]
= I’m surprised that you’re here! (lit., tis surprise with-me...)
- Chuir sin ionadh air. (KHWIHR shihn EE-uh-nuh EHR) [xir′ s′in iːnə er′] = That astonished him. (lit., that put wonder on-him)
- Ná bíodh ionadh ort. (NAW BEE-uhkh EE-uh-nuh ORT) [naː biːəx iːnə ort] = Don’t be surprised.
History: Old Irish “ingnad” (strange; a wonder) comes from Common Celtic *an-gnātos, from Indo-European *n- (not, un-) + *gnōtos
(known: see the previous
Focal #105). Cognates in English include “unknown”, “agnostic” and “ignorant”.
Scottish Gaelic: iongnadh