Seanfhocal an Lae- Phrase of the day
Everyday for the last month I've been looking for ways to keep up my Irish and learn something new about the language everyday. One thing which I have been doing regularly is learning an old Irish phrase (a seanfhocal) whenever I can. My favourite so far is my slogan for the 'Gaeltacht at home' course, 'Tús maith leath na hoibre'.
Here are a few more which I've put together over the last while for you guys to try learn if you have a few spare minutes in the day.
I have indented a few of the ones which I had learnt from my first Gaeltacht, Colaiste na bhFiann, Gaoth Dobhair; here, we were tested everyday after dinner on the phrase which the Bainisteoir (principal) had picked out to be 'Seanfhocal an Lae'
Is ait an mac an saol
life is odd
is maith an scéalaí an aimsir time will tell
ní lia duine ná tuairim opinions are as plentiful as people
de réir a chéile thógtar na caisleaín by degrees the castle is built
is fearr déanach ná choíche better late than never
I dtús na haicíde is fusa í a leigheas It's easier to cure a disease at the start
mol an óige agus tiocfaidh siad praise the youth and they will prosper
ní bhíonn in aon rud ach seal nothing lasts forever
Ní bhíonn saoi gan locht Nobody's perfect
dá fhad é an lá, tagann an oíche However long the day, night will come
bíonn an fhírinne searbh the truth is bitter
ní mar a shíltear a bhítear things aren't always as they seem
filleann an feall ar an bhfeallaire what goes around comes around
an rud is annamh is iontach what's rare is wonderful
Is olc an ghaoth nach séideann maith do dhuine éigin it's an ill wind that doesn't blow some good
is minic a bhíonn duine agus a chosúlacht in aghaidh a chéile don't judge by appearances
is minic comhairle maith ag amadán the fool has good advice
is iomaí slí le muc a mharú seachas é thachtadh theres many ways to kill a pig other than choking
ní bhíonn bua gan dua there's no winning without work
cuireann an diabhail obair ar fáil do lámha díomhaoin the devil puts work in idle hands
is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte health is better than wealth
is fearr deimhin ná díomá better be sure than sorry
ní haon mhaith a bheith ag seanchas nuair a bhíonn an anachain déanta there's no good complaining once the wrong is done
is fearr súil le glas ná súil leis an uaigh its better to have eye for the green than eye for the grave
ciall ceannaithe an chiall is fearr bought sense is the best sense
aigne shlán i gcorp folláin healthy mind in healthy body