ASPIRATION  (AKA, LENITION)

Cumann Carad Na Gaeilge / The Philo-Celtic Society

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Before the 1960s, aspiration (aka, lenition) was symbolized by putting a dot over the

consonant.   Since the 1960s, it's been symbolized by putting an h after the consonant.

Aspiration / Lenition changes the way the consonant is pronounced.   There are a

number of reasons why you aspirate (lenite) the first consonant of a word.  Learn a

few of the most common reasons for now.

Singular Possessive

mo mhac

my son

do phoitín

your poteen

a chorr

his chariot

a caipín

her cap

m'úll

my apple

d'úll

your apple

a úll

his apple

a h-úll

her apple

Negative

Ní, Níor, and Níorbh aspirate the following consonant.

Ní ghlanaim.

I clean not.

Níor ghlan mé.

I cleaned not.

Níorbh ghlantóir mé.

I wasn't a cleaner.

Adjective Preceding The Noun

sean-bhean

old woman

droch-phingin

bad penny

Use of Certain Prepositions Without the Article 'An' ('the')

ar chaipín

on a cap

de charr

from a car

ó sholas

from a light

Some prepositions don’t aspirate.  For example, i ('in') causes eclipsis.