Focal an Lae #146
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: céanna (KAYN-uh) [k′eːnə]
Meaning: céanna = same
Usage:
- an lá céanna (uh LAW KAYN-uh) [ə laː k′eːnə] = the same day
- an bhean chéanna (uh VAN HYAYN-uh) [ə v′æn x′eːnə] = the same woman
- an teach ceannann céanna (uh CHAKH KYAHN-uhn KAYN-uh) [ə t′æx k′anən k′eːnə] = the very same house
(lit., the house whitefaced same; ceannann normally refers to cattle and horses,
but seems to have linked up with céanna because of the way it echoes the sound of the word)
History: Old Irish “cétnae” meant “first” when preceding the noun and “same” when following the noun.
It comes from the same Common Celtic root as OIr “cét-”, ModIr “céad” (first), but with an added suffix: *kintu-nyo-.
See
Focal #145 for the background of *kintu-.
Scottish Gaelic: ceudna