Literally "My soul is in love with you, and your soul is in love with me", but the effect is "My soul loveth thee, and thy soul loveth me" or "I love you with all my soul and you love _me_ with all of _your_ soul".

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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).

Hi Breandan, thank you so much for your help. "My Soul loveth thee, and thy soul loveth me" is lovely, but I just wondered, I know that obviously English and Irish are different and there may not be an exact word in Irish for certain words we have in English, but isn't there a word in Irish for 'thou' and 'thee' or do you have to write it, as you very kindly have, in a way that creates the effect of those words.

I only ask because as mentioned before, although my father knew gaelic (Irish) very well, I only know a few words and phrases that he taught me as a child, so I am interested to know.

thanks again, Maggymay

No problem. It is a very good question.

The "effect" of the English words "thou" and "thee", i.e., sounding poetic or old fashioned, arises largely because those words are no longer in everyday use.

In contrast, the Irish equivalents tú, etc., are still in use with the everyday meaning of singular "you", so any feeling of being poetic (or old fashioned) can only come from other elements and turns of phrase in the sentence.

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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).

Thanks for explaining, I think I will go with the translation you have posted, it is very lovely and I'm sure my father would have liked it.

I will have to have a go at learning Irish myself, one of my daughter's was starting to learn when she was little, as my dad was helping her, so would be nice to start again.

Many thanks, Maggymay

Be sure to wait for confirmation or correction, though. Also, someone else may yet have an idea that will make this one look pale by comparison ...

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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).

I doubt that very much, I think your translation will be hard to beat. Just showed it to my mother and she is really pleased. It was really kind of you to help, so thanks very much and for the other translation as well, "At God's right hand."

We used to have a formal and informal way of addressing people in Irish, but to use it now would sound very strange.
Scottish Gaelic and Welsh still have those forms, as well as a lot of European languages.


"Thou lovest me, and I love thee."
Breandán's is lovely and poetic, but if you want it directly translated may I suggest -
Tá grá agat d(h)om, is tá grá agam d(h)uit.

(h) is optional.

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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.
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I was under the impression that because several of the Scots queens were French or had received a French upbringing such as Mary Queen o' Scots/Marie Stewart, that this had had an influence on the use of sibh in Gàidhlig - and of course there are quite a few words still used in Scots today that are French in origin.

Hi Brid, many thanks. Is the translation above Irish gaelic? that's interestng to have the alternative, I am spoilt for choice now, with Breandan's and now yours! Out of interest, I just wondered about the following words : "nom-charai-siu" and "not charaimm-siu." I came across a book of 'old' irish and it said that the first words were gaelic for thou lovest me, and that "not charaimm-siu" is gaelic for I love thee. There were slight variations depending on the emphasis placed on words. Just wondered if you have come across these words and whether that is the case.

Many thanks, Maggymay

Yes.



I've never heard that before. If it is Old Irish I wouldn't have a clue, Breandán is the expert there.



I don't know. I have very little knowledge of the history of either language.
Welsh also has formal and informal ways to address people, would they be influenced by the French too?
I think I mentioned before that I heard my mother say that long ago when she herself was young that people addressed priests as "sibh".

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___________________________________________________________

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.
___________________________________________________________