ECLIPSIS

Cumann Carad Na Gaeilge / The Philo-Celtic Society

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Eclipsis is putting a consonant in front of the beginning of a word.  You say the first consonant

but not the second consonant, which has now been 'eclipsed.'  There are a number of reasons

why you eclipse the beginning of a word.  Learn a few for now.

Cá (where) - causes eclipsis

Cónaíonn tú.

You dwell.

Cá gcónaíonnn tú?

Where dwell you?

(Where do you live?)

Plural Possessives

ár mbróga

our shoes

bróga = shoes.

bhur gcaipíní

your caps

caipíní = caps.

a n-úlla

their apples

úlla = apples

Interrogatory “An” (“An” means “here comes a question”)

Itheann tú.

You eat.

An n-itheann tú anseo?

Eat you here?

(Do you eat here?)

Relative “go” (that)

Pósfaidh mé.

I will marry.

Sílim go bpósfaidh mé.

I think that I will marry.           _

Use of Prepositions With the Article 'An' ('the')

an bord

the table

ar an mbord

on the table

Preposition “i” (“in”) without the article “an” (“the”)

gloine

glass

i ngloine

in a glass

If I have to eclipse a word because of these rules, what consonants do I use to eclipse other letters?

m

is used to eclipse

b

g

“””

c

n

“””

d

bh

“””

f

n

“””

g

b

“””

p

d

“””

t

n

“””

all vowels

l, m, n, r, and s have not been eclipsed since about the 12th century, so don’t eclipse those.

i suíochán

in a seat

Cá léim sé?

Where jumped he?

(Where’d he jump?)

ar an mullach

on the summit