Perhaps:

Ní dhearna mé tada. "I didn't do anything." "I did nothing."


(tada is Connemara Irish. It would be dada in CO.)

_________________
Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

Á, is é sin an fáth mar sin. GRMA as an eolas, a Labhráis - fair play dhuit.



That was my understanding of what Mimerim was asking for, a Bhríd:



I understood that the 'you return home' in the dialogue referred to someone who had been away (in another town/city/county/country, etc.) for a certain period of time and had returned to his/her homeplace. For me 'chuaigh tú abhaile' ('you went home') would sound more like a reference to someone who had been at work/school/the pub/the shop and had gone home (a short trip). It's quite possible, however, that I've misinterpreted what Mimerim was asking for.

Yep, that's exactly what I needed. Well, I think, at least. This person left his home without telling his family where he was going, then after 2 months he returns home. So maybe it's best if I use: "D'fhill tú ar an mbaile agus d'éirígh sí as as a stuaim féin?" or "Filleann tú ar an mbaile agus éiríonn sí as as a stuaim féin?" depending if I want past or present tense...?

I think I'll use "Ní dhearna mé tada." as the second line if everyone's cool with that.

I'm a bit hung up on líomóide, though. Is that actually the juice of a lemon or the oil (which comes from the rind, I think)? Does anyone know the Irish for lemon balm? This plant: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_officinalis
It would be great if I could use lemon balm instead of lemon oil...

_________________
I'm very much a beginner learner. Don't hesitate to correct me, as long as you explain why. This is how I learn best!

lemon balm (Melissa officianalis) = lus na meala líomóide (from focal.ie)

geis lus na meala líomóide = the lemon balm spell

balm = lus meala (literally 'honey herb' or 'herb of honey')

líomóid = lemon

ola = oil

líomoide is the genitive form of líomóid (i.e. of lemon/lemon('s) )

Yes!!!!

"Cén gheis a chuir tú uirthi? Geis lus na meala líomóide?"

to all!! And Happy New Year!

_________________
I'm very much a beginner learner. Don't hesitate to correct me, as long as you explain why. This is how I learn best!

There is a word for nothing, "neamhní", but it's used an awful lot less than in English (and English in turn uses "nothing" an awful lot less than French, Spanish etc) so it would make for a rather unidiomatic translation. The word tada/dada just means a small quantity, but it's learners' (and some natives') expectation of everything mapping neatly onto English concepts that leads people to start trying to treat it as though it means "nothing" in and of itself.

If you want a repetition, I'm afraid it's the English that will need to change -- the closest Modern English to the phrase would be "I didn't do anything", but if you're looking for archaic English, "I did not do a thing" would work perfectly well.

But once we make that translation, we're probably better off getting rid of tada/dada (as it's more "a jot" than "a thing") and using "aon ní" (or even "aon rud", if you prefer).

_________________
A language belongs to its native speakers, and when you speak it, you are a guest in their homes.
If you are not a good guest, you have no right to complain about receiving poor hospitality.

When my parents taught me to count they used "neamhní" for zero/nothing.
Nowadays everybody seems to say "náid".

"Tada" is very common in Conamara speech.
Níl tada 'am. -I don't have "nothing" (anything). It's said the same way in Welsh - dim byd



If it is a response to a question (what did you do?) you can simply say "Tada".

_________________
___________________________________________________________

It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
___________________________________________________________

Technically, most of the French words for "nothing" also mean "a very little something" as well.

But I agree it may be the English "nothing" that needs to be changed. How critical is that particular word to the plot, mimerim?

Another alternative might be to change the play of words:

In the first instance, "Diabhal geis a chuir mé uirthi." "No spell did I put on her." (literally "devil a spell ..."

Later, "diabhal geis? sin nó diabhal geise? "Devil a spell or a devil of a spell?"

This could also be phrased "diabhail geis? sin nó diabhail de gheis?" with the same meaning.

This might also work macaronically, i.e., using the Irish in the first instance and then the English translation later.

(Crossed with Bríd)

_________________
Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

I was taught to use neamhní for "zero", but I don't know if it's common.

Same here. I was told it's a very Connemara (or maybe only South Connemara?) way to say "zero" from my teacher from Leitir Meallain.