Hi,

As I mentioned in my introduction, I am writing a book and the main character is Irish.
The main character and a secondary character vie for the same woman (main character married the heroine, secondary character is jealous).
As you can imagine, there are some heated arguments between the two.
I am looking for swear words the main character would use to refer to the secondary character.
Anything goes, from light swear words to harsh.
Can anybody post some I can use either in dialog or in thought processes?

Thank you in advance,

T.

I understand in Irish, they use more curses than swear words. If you would like some curses, I am sure a lot of us will be happy to post some.

Wait for someone with more Irish, to pop on, and add their two cents.

Sass

Anything will help. I am looking for anything from the usual "idiot" to more foul terms. Sorry for the odd request.

I had someone tell me to use:
Poll Tóna—Asshole

Not sure if that would work in a dialog where the main character is referring to the secondary character (in his thoughts) using that word.

T.

Eedgit = idiot
idiot/fool = Amadán

Provide some specific words or phrases, you would like translated, would be helpful.

American terms like fuck off, shit, hell, damn, really don't translate into Irish.

Want for others to chime in with their thoughts.

Sass

"idiot" is "amadán" or "uascán", or if it describes a woman, it is "óinseach".

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Is fearr Gaeilg na Gaeltaċta ná Gaeilg ar biṫ eile
Agus is í Gaeilg Ġaoṫ Doḃair is binne

This might be a fun site to pay around with, however, if you are using this in a writing you're publishing, check here first.
http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaeilge/donnch ... /mallacht/

Another site that might be helpful is one by Dennis King, who is a very respected Irish scholar.
http://www.sengoidelc.com/node Check under: Curses and insults.

Sass

How timely! This comes hot on the heels of yesterday's word of the day. Bríd's pronunciation is Conamara Irish.
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=1095&start=20

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Ok...so I understand that there are variations of how a word is used based on whether you are talking to the person or about the person.

Like A ghrá and mo ghrá

How about amadán? T'amadáin ? What would be the correct form when talking about the person to others and the one when calling a person that?


As for the other names, I was looking for something like "asshole", "loser", etc but something that would be used in Ireland, not a literal translation.

Thank you,

T.

Irish grammer is quite different than English grammer. A stand alone word, may be spelled differently than when the word is used in a sentence.

If someone said, "Scata amadán gan mhaith", It would mean, a crowd of fools, but I think it may also mean something like, "a bunch of assholes."

My Irish is minimal, please wait for someone else to chime in with their thoughts.

Sass

Use amadán when talking about someone:

Is amadán é. "He's a fool"

Use a amadáin when addressing/talking to someone (even if only in your head):

A amadáin ! "(You) fool!"

Using Bríd's list:

óinseach = fool (used for women only) => a óinseach !
pleota = fool => a phleota !
cladhaire= villain/trickster/coward, can be used a general not too offensive swear-word => a chladhaire !
creamhaire = crook => a chreamhaire !

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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).