Focal an Lae #193
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: snámh (SNAWV) [snaːv]
Meaning: snámh = swim, swimming (and by extension: crawl, glide)
Usage:
- Níl snámh agam. (NEEL SNAWV AH-guhm) [n′iːl′ snaːv agəm] = I don’t know how to swim. (lit., is-not swimming at-me)
- Bhí siad ag snámh san abhainn. (VEE SHEE-uhd uh SNAWV suhn OWNY, OW as in cow, NY as in canyon) [v′iː s′iːəd ə snaːv sən aun′]
= They were swimming in the river.
- Bhí sé ag snámh ar a bholg. = He was crawling on his belly.
History: Old Irish “snám” and Welsh “nawf” both come from the Indo-European root * snā- (to swim).
The learned English cognate “natation” comes from Latin “natare” (to swim).
Scottish Gaelic: snàmh