Focal an Lae #272
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: athair (AH-hihr) [ahər′]
Meaning: athair = father
Usage:
- Tá sé ina athair anois. (TAW shay uh-nuh AH-hihr uh-NISH) [taː s′eː ənə ahər′ ənis′] = He’s a father now. (lit., he is in-his father now)
- athair mór (... MOHR) [moːr] = grandfather
- athair céile (... KAY-luh) [... k′eːl′ə] = father-in-law
History: Old Irish “athir” comes from Indo-European *pəter- (father).
There is a total loss of IE “p” in Celtic.
Cognates in English include “father” and “paternal”, from Latin “pater” (father).
Scottish Gaelic: athair