Focal an Lae #208
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: gual (GOO-uhl) [guːəl]
Meaning: gual = coal
Usage:
- Baintear gual ansin. (BAN-chuhr GOO-uhl uhn-SHIHN) [ban′t′ər guːəl əns′in] = Coal is mined there. (lit., one-mines coal there)
- Loisc tú do ghual is ní dhearna tú do ghoradh. (LOSHK TOO duh GHOO-uhl iss nee YAHR-nuh too duh GHO-ruh)
[los′k′ tuː də ghuːəl is n′iː jaːrna tuː də ghorə] = You bungled the job. You misused your opportunity.
(lit., you burned your coal and you didn’t do your warming)
History: Old Irish “gúal” comes from Indo-European *g(e)u-lo- (glowing coal). English “coal” is an exact cognate.
Scottish Gaelic: gual