Irish words for...

[honor_your_life]

Here is a list of words that I would like to be translated into Irish. All these words have some sort of meaning to me, and would mean alot more in my ancestors language. I am getting them tattooed on to my body. Thanks for any and all help!

Truth
Honor
Strength
Power
Love
Courage
Knowledge
Friendship
Nature
Justice
Loyalty
Forgiveness
Family
Respect
Mercy
Peace
North

Any help with these words would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much everyone!

-Ryan (Still wandering),

[Beith]

Hi Ryan
,
Here you go!

Truth = Fírinne
Honor = Onóir (also clú, ómós - the latter being more "reverence" and "respect")
Strength = Neart
Power = Cumhacht  or brí (but also we use Neart for the sense of strong power)
Love = Grá
Courage = Misneach
Knowledge = Eolas
Friendship = Cairdeas
Nature = Nádur
Justice = cóir or ceart (ceart meaning that which is right)
Loyalty = Tairise
Forgiveness = maithiúnas
Family = Clann
Respect = Meas
Mercy = Trócaire
Peace = Síocháin
North = Tuisceart

Good luck with the tattoos!
Best wishes
Beith

[honor_your_life]

Wow! Thanks alot Beith! That helps me out so much and so speedy as well! I will post pictures of the tattoos when they are done!

Once again, thanks alot!

-Ryan (Still wandering),

[Aengus]

How about "honorable" as if I were to use it as a first name....any thoughts?

[Beith]

Hi Hu

Onórach = honourable.
Ionracas - honourable (Ionraic = upright/honour/integrity)
Uasal is the word we use for Noble.

Adjectives in Irish are usually written after the noun. eg. Fear uasal (an honourable/noble man)

best wishes,
Beith

[Aengus]

Wow thanks for the help. It really was helpful

[Aengus]

Hi Hu

Onórach = honourable.
Ionracas - honourable (Ionraic = upright/honour/integrity)
Uasal is the word we use for Noble.

Adjectives in Irish are usually written after the noun. eg. Fear uasal (an honourable/noble man)

best wishes,
Beith

Oh and one more thing, so if I were to use its as "Honorable son of Arthur" it would be "Onorach McArthur"?

Also how would you pronounce "Onorach"?
Again, thank you so much for the help!

[Beith]

Hi Hu,

You pronounce Onórach as "on-ore-uhk" except the "uhk" bit isn't a strong "hard k" sound ending, but a soft one. You know how the composer Bach is pronounced? well the -ach of Irish is similar to that. The accent on the second ó is a length mark to show the vowel has a long sound, not a short one.

In terms of what you want to say, well it's a bit hard sometimes to translate directly from Irish to English because we construct things differently in either language. Names are nouns rather than adjectives, so I'd probably go with Onór ("on-ore") rather than Onórach. You could use Onórach but then it would normally follow another noun such as Mac (son) or Fear (man) to express an honorable son or man, which is then followed by the lineage, but then your name title would be very cumbersome and lengthy.

As for the son of Arthur. It depends what you want to express by Arthur. ie. if you're wanting to use that name as in the British King Arthur, then yes use that form. If however you are using it in the sense of having a Bear ancestor (Art) then it would be MacAirt, the i in Art comes from the fact that names in Irish are given in the genetive case (possessive case) following the "son of" part.

Also we use the "mac" or "Mac" (sometimes shortened to Mc as a contraction of mac) differently in different eras. Let me see if I can remember this correctly:

If you are using a patronymic, ie. literally stating you are the direct son of Arthur, then you use a lower case mac. If using it as a surname such as a clan title from an eponymous ancestor, then upper case M - Mac. I think!

So "Onór macArthur "or "MacArthur" or "mac Airt" or "MacAirt" depending on what tribal/kin relationship and ancestor type you want to express.

Gets kind of complicated doesn't it?!
All the best!
Beith

[Aengus]

WOW thanks SO much for that detailed explination! Ur the best! I want to thank you for all your help. I really do appriciate it.

Many blessings to you

[honor_your_life]

There is what the tattoo looks like, I want to finish the rest of my arm. I apparently didn't have enough words. :P So here are the other words I wanted if I had more room.

Could I also get help on these words?

Life,
Death,
Moon,
Night,
Mind,

Thanks alot!

[Beith]

Wow - that's really nicely done! Did it hurt?! Maybe if you decide to do the other arm you might like a piece of poetry or an ancient prayer summoning the elemental forces!

Below- your word list in translation to modern Irish. I've given various options, ie. both saol and beatha express "life" so choose either, etc. The words in green are Old Irish language 7-9th century in case you wanted a more ancient form of Irish language.

Life, = Saol, Beatha (old Irish Betha)
Death = Bás, éag (old Irish bás, éc)
Moon - gealach, ré (Old Irish éscae, ré, gelach)
Night - oíche (Old Irish adaig, aidche)
Mind - Aigne, meon, cuimhne (Old Irish Menmae)

best regards
Beith

[honor_your_life]

Thanks so much!
It did not hurt one bit! :P
That was the plan for my other arm was a short piece of writing that really connects with me. Until I find it, my other arm will remain untouched! :P

But once again thanks very much Beith!