Focal an Lae #233
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: seinn (SHAYN) [s′eːn′], seinm (SHEH-nuhm) [s′en′əm′]
Meaning: seinn = play an instrument, sing; seinm = playing, singing
Usage:
- Sheinn sí ar an gcláirseach. (HAYN shee ehr uh GLAWR-shuhkh) [heːn′ s′iː er′ ə glaːr′s′əx] = She played (on) the harp.
- Tá na héin ag seinm. (TAW nuh HAYN uh SHEH-nuhm) [taː nə heːn′ ə s′en′əm′] = The birds are singing.
- Go seinne sé siar ort! (guh SHEN-yuh shay SHEE-uhr ort) [gə s′en′ə s′eː s′iːər ort]
= May it give you the farts! (said to a glutton; lit., may it warble back on-you)
History: Old Irish “seinnid” is a reflex of Indo-European *swen-e-ti (sounds, sings), from the root *swen- (to sound).
Cognates in English include “sound”, “sonic” and “swan”.
Scottish Gaelic: seinn