Focal an Lae #187
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: amach (uh-MAHKH) [əmax]
Meaning: amach = out, outwards (describing motion to)
Usage:
- Chuaigh sí amach. (KHOO-uh shee uh-MAHKH) [xuə s′iː əmax] = She went out.
- as seo amach (AHS(H) SHOH uh-MAHKH) [as(′) s′oː əmax] = from here on out, from now on
- Amach leat! (uh-MAHKH lat) [əmax l′æt] = Get out! (lit., out with-you)
- Tá an cat ag iarraidh amach. = The cat wants out.
History: Old Irish “i-mmach” (literally, “into-field”) is based on “mag” (field, plain, open land),
which, like Welsh “maes” (field) and “ma” (field, place), comes from Common Celtic *magos (plain),
which may derive from Indo-European *meg- (great).
If this is so, then all the English words based on Latin “magnus”, such as “magnitude” and “magnify”, are cognate.
Scottish Gaelic: a-mach