Focal an Lae #319
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: luach (LOO-uhkh) [luːəx]
Meaning: luach = value, price
Usage:
- Fuair siad luach a gcuid airgid. (FOO-ihr SHEE-uhd LOO-uhkh uh GWIHJ A-ruh-gihj) [fuːər′ s′iːəd luːəx ə gid′ ær′əg′əd′]
= They got their money’s worth.
- Dhíol mé faoina luach é. (YEE-uhl may FWEE-nuh LOO-uhkh ay) [j′iːl m′eː fiːnə luːəx eː]
= I sold it for less than it was worth. (lit., sold I beneath-its value it)
- Tá an craiceann agus a luach uaidh. (TAW uhn CRACK-uhn ah-guhs uh LOO-uhkh wye) [taː ən kræk′ən agəs ə luːəx vai]
= He wants to have his cake and eat it, too. (lit., he wants the hide and its price)
History: Old Irish “lóg” comes from the Indo-European root *lau- (gain, profit, booty).
Cognates in English include “lucre” and “lucrative”, from Latin “lucrum” (gain, profit).
Irish “leor” (
Focal #95) derives from the same IE root.
Scottish Gaelic: luach