Focal an Lae #317
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: fáinne (FAWN-yuh) [faːn′ə]
Meaning: fáinne = ring
Usage:
- Tá fáinne pósta ar a méar. (TAW FAWN-yuh POHS-tuh ehr uh MAY-uhr) [taː faːn′ə poːstə er′ ə m′eːr]
= There is a wedding ring on her finger. (lit., is ring of-marriage on her finger)
- Fáinne óir ort! (... OH-ihr ort) [... oːr′ ort] = Many thanks! (lit., ring of-gold on-you)
- fáinne an lae (... uhn LAY) [... ən leː] = daybreak (lit., the ring of the day, i.e., the light on the horizon)
History: Old Irish “áinne” comes from the Indo-European root *āno- (ring).
Cognates in English, from Latin, include “annular” and “anus”... which brings to mind Brendan Behan’s definition of the ring-shaped lapel
pin called a “fáinne” that was once popular among Irish-language enthusiasts: “the Erse-hole”!
Scottish Gaelic: fàinne