Focal an Lae #312
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: flaitheas (FLAH-huhs) [flahəs]
Meaning: flaitheas = rule, sovereignty, kingdom
Usage:
- na flaithis (nuh FLAH-hish) [nə flahəs′] = heaven (lit., the kingdoms)
- Tá sé sna flaithis anois. (TAW shay snuh FLAH-hish uh-NISH) [taː s′eː snə flahəs′ ənis′] = He is in heaven now.
- maorlathas (MWEER-lah-huhs) [miːrlahəs] = bureaucracy (lit., a compound of “maor” (supervisor, etc.) and “flaitheas”)
- daonlathas (DEEN-lah-huhs) [diːnlahəs] = democracy (lit., a compound of “daoine” (people) and “flaitheas”)
History: Old Irish “flaith” (rule) and Welsh “gwlad” (country) come from Indo-European *wlati-s, from the root *wal- (to be strong).
Cognates in English include “wield”, “valiant” and “valid”.
Scottish Gaelic: flaitheas