Focal an Lae #158
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: cáis (KAWSH) [kaːs′]
Meaning: cáis = cheese
Usage:
- Is maith liom cáis Fhrancach. (ISS MAH lyum KAWSH RAHNK-uhkh) [is mah l′um kaːs′ raŋkəx] = I like French cheese.
(lit., tis good with-me cheese French)
- císte cáise (KEESH-chuh KAW-shuh) [k′iːs′t′ə kaːs′ə] = cheese cake (lit., cake of-cheese)
History: Old Irish “cáise” was borrowed from Latin “caseus” (cheese), which derives from Indo-European *kwāt-so-,
from the root *kwat- (to ferment, be sour).
English “cheese” goes back via Germanic *kasjus to the Latin word, as does the term “casein”.
Russian “kvass” (a kind of beer) goes directly back to the OI root.
Scottish Gaelic: cáise