I'm getting a new tattoo with the word "family" across my arm in Gaeilge. I have an Irish/English dictionary printed in Ireland, but I want to be like dead accurate of the correct written word for family in Irish. What I have, and there are a few but this is the one I believe to be most accurate, is "teaghlach". "Clann" was another option but I looked at the literal definition and "clann" meant children, offspring, race, descendants, followers, whereas "teaghlach" was defined as family, household. There were a few other options but none seemed to be defined as accurate to family as "teaghlach". What is the opinion in the forum of which is correct? If "teachlach" is correct, how would you pronounce it? Am I right in pronouncing it tay-leck?

The definitions you have found are correct. You have two spellings for 'family/household' above: teachlach and teaghlach. teaghlach is the normal standard spelling. So if you mean all the people in the house, both parents and children, then teaghlach is good.

If you have another meaning for 'family' in mind then let us know. For example the extended family including cousins etc.

Whoops! sorry about that, the second spelling was a typo. I guess it sort of will encompass the extended family as well

Then 'muintir' may be what you are looking for. It includes the whole gang! Perhaps a little like the English word 'kin'.

_________________

Okay great! Now how would you pronounce that? As well as teaghlach? Just for the hell of it

My impression is that only civil servants like using the term teaghlach for "family". It has that clinical administrative feel that government departments are so fond of.

Muintir has the broadest appeal (amongst all the dialects and also in meaning). It includes all who are near and dear to you.

For a "household", I think Connemara people prefer comhlódar (CO = comhluadar) though some use the loanword feaimilí.

Muintir "family (extended)"
MWEEN-tirh
/mi:N´t´ər´/

Slender t is somewhere between a t and a ch sound, like the t in "ritual".

The slender r, which I have written as "rh" in the phonics, is lightly flapped like Scottish r but so light that it almost buzzes.


Teaghlach "family (nuclear)"
TIE-lukh
/t´aiLəx/

The first syllable is somewhere between TIE and CHAI.

The broad ch /x/ (kh in my phonics) is like the ch in loch /lox/ (lokh), never like a k sound. It may help to think of a very breathy h pronounced deep in the throat. Could also be described as the sound people make when clearing phlegm from the throat.

_________________
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).

Here we are trying to encourage people to speak the wonderful, musical language that is Irish and you come out with something like that!

_________________

That's great Breandán, thanks so much, that was very helpful in supporting what Saoirse said and clearing up pronounciation

Haha, touché

Would anyone else like to weigh in?