Focal an Lae #357
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: oideachas (EH-juh-khuhs) [ed′əxəs]
Meaning: oideachas = education
Usage:
- Tá oideachas maith aige. (TAW EH-juh-khuhs MAH EHG-yuh) [taː ed′əxəs mah eg′ə] = He has a good education.
- Is í Niamh Bhreathnach an tAire Oideachais. (SHEE NEE-uhv VRA-nuhkh uhn TA-ruh EH-juh-khish) [s′iː n′iːəv v′r′ænəx ən tærə ed′əxəs′]
= Niamh Bhreathnach is the Minister of Education.
History: “Oideachas” is built up from “oide” (tutor, teacher), from Old Irish “aite” (fosterfather, preceptor, tutor).
“Aite” originally meant “daddy”, just as “muime” (fostermother) originally meant “mommy”, testimony of the closeness of the bond
between fosterparents and foster-children in early Ireland, where fosterage was an important institution.
Scottish Gaelic: oideachas