A Little Bit of Irish + Word Power

Each edition we offer you the opportunity to add a little bit of Irish to your vocabulary

English: Silence is golden 
Irish: Is binn béal ina thost
Pronounced: Iss bin bail inna hust

English: The windy day is not the day for thatching
Irish: Ní hé lá na gaoithe lá na scolb
Pronounced: Knee hay law nah gwee-heh law nah sculb

English: He who runs away lives to fight another day
Irish: Is fearr rith maith ná drochsheasamh
Pronounced: Iss farr rih mot nah druch-shas-ivh

English: Hear much and say little
Irish: Eist moran agus can beagan
Pronounced: Aisht more-on ogus kon byug-on

English: An open mouth often catches a closed fist
Irish: Is minic a gheibhean beal oscailt diog dunta
Pronounced: Iss minik ah gevh-yun bail uskult dee-ug doon-tah 

English: It takes time to build castles
Irish: De reir a cheile a thogtar na caisleain
Pronounced: Day rare ah kayla a hug-tur nah cosh-lawn

English: Broken Irish is better than clever English
Irish: Is fearr Gaeilge briste, na Bearla cliste
Pronounced: Iss far gale-geh brishteh naw bear-elh clish-teh

English: No door closed without another opening
Irish: Cha d'dhùin doras nach d'fhosgail doras
Pronounced: Caw dih-doo-inn durriss nock dus-gall duriss

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Word Power

Over the next few editions we’ll be attempting to increase your word power. Have a look at the words below and afterwards see if you know their meaning.

Pragmatic
 
Meaning: Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based in practical rather than theoretical considerations.

Pejorative

Meaning: A word expressing contempt or disapproval

Contempt

Meaning: The feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration.

Evocative

Meaning: Bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind.

Poignant

Meaning: Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret

Silhouette

Meaning: A silhouette is a solid, usually black, shape representing the outline of a person, object, or scene against a lighter background. 

Cameo

Meaning: A small character part in a play or film, played by a distinguished actor or a celebrity.

Chaste

Meaning: Abstaining from extramarital, or from all sexual intercourse.

Abseil

Meaning: Descend a rock face or other near vertical surface by using a double rope coiled around the body and fixed at a higher point

Sublime

Meaning: Beauty as top inspire great admiration or awe

 

How did you score ?

10 or more – Perfection !
6-9  Brilliant
3-6  Well done
0-2  Must do better





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