Focal an Lae #162
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: ifreann (IHF-ruhn) [if′r′ən]
Meaning: ifreann = hell
Usage:
- Ní bheidh ifreann lán go dté sé ann. (NEE VAY IHF-ruhn LAWN guh JAY shay AWN) [n′iː v′ei if′r′ən laːn gə d′eː s′eː aːn]
= There’s a place waiting for him in hell. (lit., not will-be hell full till should-go he in-it)
- tine ifrinn (CHIH-nuh IHF-rihn) [t′in′ə if′r′ən′] = hellfire (lit., fire of-hell)
History: Old Irish “ifern” goes back to Late Latin “infernus” (hell), from the Latin adjective meaning “lower, underground”,
which derives from Indo-European *ndher- (under). Cognates in English include “infernal”, “inferior” and “under”.
Scottish Gaelic: ifrinn