Focal an Lae #134
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: fíor (FEE-uhr) [f′iːr]
Meaning: fíor = true; truth
Usage:
- scéal fíor (SHKAY-uhl FEE-uhr) [s′k′eːl f′iːr] = a true story
- Is fíor duit. (ISS FEE-uhr DIHCH) [is f′iːr dit′] = You’re right. (lit., tis true for-you)
- fíor agus bréag (...BRAYG) [...b′r′eːg] = truth and untruth
History: Old Irish “fír”, Welsh “gwir” and Latin “verus” all come from Indo-European *wēro- (true).
Each language shows its typical reflex of IE *w in initial position: f, gw and v respectively.
In the same way, IE *wīro- (man) becomes “fear” in Irish, “gŵr” in Welsh and “vir” in Latin.
Scottish Gaelic: fìor