Prepositional pronouns in Goidelic languages

When pronouns and prepositions are combined they have special forms in the Goidelic languages. Or in other words, the prepositions conjugate for person.

At | On | Out of/From/Off | To/Towards | Of | For/To | Under | In | With | From | Through | Around | Before | Over | Between | Next to | To/Against/Towards/With | By/Beside

Empahtic endings are showing in brackets.

Key off abbreviations

GE = Irish Gaelic (Gaeilge), GA = Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig), GV = Manx Gaelic (Gaelg), EN = English, sg = singular, pl = plural, frm = formal.

At

GE	GA	GV	EN
ag	aig	ec	at
agam(sa)	agam(sa)	aym(s)	at me
agat(sa)	agad(sa)	ayd(s)	at you (sg)
aige(san)	aige(san)	echey(syn)	at him
aici(se)	aici(se)	eck(sh)	at her
againn(e)	againn(e)	ain(yn)	at us
agaibh(se)	agaibh(se)	eu(ish)	at you (pl/frm)
acu(san)	aca(san)	oc(syn)	at them

This preposition can be used off indicate possesion, capability, knowledge, feelings, obligation, advantage over or an agent. Here are some examples:

GE	GA	GV	EN
Tá leabhar agam	Tha leabhar agam	Ta lioar aym	I have a book
Tá súile gorma agat	Tha sùile gorm agad	Ta sooillyn gorrym ayd	You have blue eyes
Tá Gaeilge aige	Tha Gàidhlig aige	Ta Gaelg echey	He speaks (has) Gaelic
Tá grá aici dom	Tha gràdh aici orm	Ta graih eck orrym	She loves me (has love for me)
Tá punt agaibh air	Tha not agaibh air	Ta punt eu er	He owes you a pound
Tá ceol acu	Tha ceòl aca	Ta kiaull oc	They have a talent for music

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On

GE	GA	GV	EN
ar	air	er	on
orm(sa)	orm(sa)	orrym(s)	on me
ort(sa)	ort(sa)	ort(s)	on you (sg)
air(san)	air(san)	er(syn)	on him
uirthi(se)	oirre(se)	urree(ish)	on her
orainn(e)	oirnn(e)	orrin(yn)	on us
oraibh(se)	oirbh(se)	erriu(ish)	on you (pl/frm)
orthu(san)	orra(san)	orroo(syn)	on them

This preposition can be used off indicate such things as illnesses and complaints, emotions, obligation, disadvantage or possibility. Here are some examples:

GE	GA	GV	EN
Tá eagla orm	Tha an t-eagal orm	Ta aggle orrym	I'm frightened
Tá ocras ort	Tha acras ort	Ta accrys ort	You're hungry

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Out of / From / Off

GE	GA	GV	EN
as	às	ass	out of / from / off
asam(sa)	asam(sa)	assym(s)	out of me
asat(sa)	asad(sa)	assyd(s)	out of you (sg)
as(san)	às(san)	ass(syn)	out of him
aisti(se)	aiste(se)	assjee(ish)	out of her
asainn(e)	asainn(e)	assdooin(yn)	out of us
asaibh(se)	asaibh(se)	assdiu(ish)	out of you (pl/frm)
astu(san)	asta(san)	assdaue(syn)	out of them

Examples:

• Tá dóchas agam as = I have trust in him / I trust him (GE)
• Tha sinn uabhasach pròiseil asad = We're terribly pround of you (GA)
• Leig mi sgreuch asam = I let out a shriek (GA)
• Cha vow eh monney assym = He won't get much change out of me (GV)
• V'ee currit assjee = She was annoyed (GV)

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To / Towards

GE	GA	GV	EN
chuig/chun	gu	hug	to / towards
chugam(sa)	thugam(sa)	hym(s)	to me
chugat(sa)	thugad(sa)	hood(s)	to you (sg)
chuige(san)	thuige(san)	huggey(syn)	to him
chuici(se)	thuice(se)	huic(ish)	to her
chugainn(e)	thugainn(e)	hooin(yn)	to us
chugaibh(se)	thugaibh(se)	hiu(ish)	to you (pl/frm)
chucu(san)	thuca(san)	huc(syn)	to them

The GA ones can also be written chugam, chugad, etc.

Examples:

• Tháinig mé chugam féin = I recovered (came towards myself) (GE)
• An tseachtain seo chugainn = next week (GE)
• Cuiridh mi leabhar thuice = I'll send a book off to her (GA)

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Of

GE	GA	GV	EN
de	de	jeh	off
díom(sa)	dhìom(sa)	jeem(s)	of me
díot(sa)	dhìot(sa)	jeed(s)	of you (sg)
de(san)	dheth(san)	jeh(syn)	of him
di(se)	dhith(se)	jee(ish)	of her
dínn(e)	dhinn(e)	jin(yn)	of us
díbh(se)	dhibh(se)	jiu(ish)	of you (pl/frm)
díobh(san)	dhiubh(san)	jeu(syn)	of them

The GA ones can also be written chugam, chugad, etc.

Examples:

• a' chuid as mò dheth = most of it (GA)
• amadan de dhuine = a fool of a man (GA)
• cuir dhìot do chòta = take your coat off (GA)

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For / to

GE	GA	GV	EN
do	do	da	to
dom(sa)	dhomh(sa)	dou (dooys)	to me
duit(sa)	dhu(i)t(sa)	dhyt(s)	to you (sg)
dó(san)	dha(san)	da(syn)	to him
di(se)	dhi(se)	jee(ish)	to her
dúinn(e)	dhuinn(e)	dooin(yn)	to us
daoibh(se)	dhuibh(se)	diu(ish)	to you (pl/frm)
dóibh(san)	dhaibh(san)	daue(syn)	to them

Examples:

• Nollaig shona daoibh = Merry Christmas to you (GE)
• Cárb as di? = Where's she from? (GE)
• Dé a thachair dhut? = What happened to you? (GA)
• Nì mi sin dhut = I'll do that for you (GA)
• Inshym skeeal diu = I'm going to tell you a story (GV)
• Jean dty leshtallyn jee! = Apologise to her! (GV)

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Under / About

GE	GA	GV	EN
faoi	fo	fo	under
fúm(sa)	fodham(sa)	foym(s)	under me
fút(sa)	fodhad(sa)	foyd(s)	under you (sg)
faoi(san)	fodha(san)	fo(syn)	under him
fúithi(se)	foidhpa(se) foipe(se)	foee(ish)	under her
fúinn(e)	fodhainn(e)	foin(yn)	under us
fúibh(se)	fodhaibh(se)	feue(ish)	under you (pl/frm)
fúthu(san)	fòdhpa(san) fòpa(san)	foue(syn)	under them

Examples:

• Is fúithi féin atá sé = It's up to herself (GE)
• Chuir siad fúthu cois an chladaigh = They settled (themselves down) by the shore (GE)
• Chaidh am bàta fodha = The boat went under/sank (GA)
• Chaidh a' chompanaidh fodha = The company failed/folded (GA)
• Denee mee my chassyn lhoobey foym = I felt my legs give way beneath me (GV)
• Doshil y thalloo foin = The ground gave way under us (GV)

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In

GE	GA	GV	EN
i	(ann) an	ayns	in
ionam(sa)	annam(sa)	aynym(s)	in me
ionat(sa)	annad(sa)	aynyd(s)	in you (sg)
ann(san)	ann(san)	ayn(syn)	in him
inti(se)	innte(se)	aynjee(ish)	in her
ionainn(e)	annainn(e)	ayndooin(yn)	in us
ionaibh(se)	annaibh(se)	ayndiu(ish)	in you (pl/frm)
iontu(san)	annta(san)	ayndaue(syn)	in them

Examples:

• Bean mhaith tí atá inti = She's a good housewife (GE)
• Tá measarthacht airde iontu = They are fairly tall (GE)
• Seo a' phoit, cuir an tì innte = Here's the pot, put the tea in it (GA)
• Is e sgrìobhadair a th' annam = I am a writer (GA)
• Denee mee my chassyn lhoobey foym = I felt my legs give way beneath me (GV)
• Doshil y thalloo foin = The ground gave way under us (GV)

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With

GE	GA	GV	EN
le	le	lesh	with
liom(sa)	leam(sa)	lhiam(s)	with me
leat(sa)	leat(sa)	lhiat(s)	with you (sg)
leis(san)	leis(san)	lesh(syn)	with him
léi(se)	leatha(se)	lhee(ish)	with her
linn(e)	leinn(e)	lhien(yn)	with us
libh(se)	leibh(se)	lhiu(ish)	with you (pl/frm)
leo(san)	leotha(san)	lhieu(syn)	with them

Examples:

• An bhfuil tú linn nó inár n-éadan? = Are you for us or against us? (GE)
• Tá muid ar aon intinn leo = We are of the same opinion as them (GE)
• 'S ann leatsa a tha e = It's belongs to you (GA)
• An tèid thu leam? = Will you go with me? (GA)
• Lhig lhien eh = Let him come with us (GV)
• Cha noddym jannoo lhee = I can't stand her (can't be having with her) (GV)

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From

GE	GA	GV	EN
ó	o/bho	voish	from
uaim(sa)	(bh)uam(sa)	voym(s)	from me
uait(sa)	(bh)uat(sa)	voyd(s)	from you (sg)
uaidh(san)	(bh)uaithe(san)	voish(syn)	from him
uaithi(se)	(bh)uaipe(se)	voee(ish)	from her
uainn(e)	(bh)uainn(e)	voin(yn)	from us
uaibh(se)	(bh)uaibh(se)	veue(ish)	from you (pl/frm)
uathu(san)	(bh)uapa(san)	voue(syn)	from them

Examples:

• Tá ochtapas uaim = I need an octopus (GE)
• Ugam agus Bhuam = To Me and from Me (GA)
• Fada bhuaibh = Far from you (GA)
• Cha dod mee tayrn mee hene ersooyl voish = I couldn't tear myself away from it (GV)
• Ghow eh ersooyl eh voym = He took it away from me (GV)

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Through

GE	GA	GV	EN
trí	troimh	trooid	through
tríom(sa)	tromhan(sa)	my hrooid	through me
tríot(sa)	tromhad(sa)	dty hrooid	through you (sg)
tríd(san)	troimhe(san)	ny hrooid	through him
tríthi(se)	troimpe(se)	ny trooid	through her
thrínn(e)	tromhainn(e)	my hrooid	through us
tríbh(se)	tromhaibh(se)	nyn drooid	through you (pl/frm)
tríothu(san)	tromhpa(san)	nyn drooid	through them

Examples:

• Hug eh cliwe ny hrooid = He ran a sword through him (GV)
• Woaill ad nyn drooid y chionnal = They forced their way through the crowd (GV)

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Around

GE	GA	GV	EN
um	mu	mygeayrt	around
umam(sa)	umam(sa)	mygeayrt aym	around me
umat(sa)	umad(sa)	mygeayrt ayd	around you (sg)
uime(san)	uime(san)	mygeayrt echey	around him
uimpi(se)	uimpe(se)	mygeayrt eck	around her
umainn(e)	umainn(e)	mygeayrt ain	around us
umaibh(se)	umaibh(se)	mygeayrt eu	around you (pl/frm)
umpu(san)	umpa(san)	mygeayrt oc	around them

Examples:

• Cuir umad do chòta = Put your coat on (about you) (GA)
• Chuir i uimpe = She got dressed (GA)

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Before

GE	GA	GV	EN
roimh	roimh	roish	before
romham(sa)	romham(sa)	roym(s)	before me
romhat(sa)	romhad(sa)	royd(s)	before you (sg)
roimhe(san)	roimhe(san)	roish(yn)	before him
roimpi(se)	roimpe(se)	roee(ish)	before her
romhainn(e)	romhainn(e)	roin(yn)	before us
romhaibh(se)	romhaibh(se)	reue(ish)	before you (pl/frm)
rompu(san)	rompa(san)	roue(syn)	before them

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Examples:

• Loic sé roimhe = He shrank from it (GE)
• Choisich sinn romhainn = We walked along/on (before ourselves) (GA)
• Bha eagal air roimhpe = He was afraid of her (GA)
• Bee jerrey jeant aym royd = I 'll have finished before you (GV)
• Er oai lhiat roym = You go on ahead of me (GV)

Over

GE	GA	GV	EN
thar	thar	coar	over
tharam(sa)	tharum(sa)	harrym(s)	over me
tharat(sa)	tharad(sa)	harryd(s)	over you (sg)
thairis(san)	thairis air	harrish(yn)	over him
thairsti(se)	thairis oirre	harree(ish)	over her
tharainn(e)	tharainn(e)	harrin(yn)	over us
tharaibh(se)	tharaibh(se)	harriu(ish)	over you (pl/frm)
tharstu(san)	tharta(san)	harroo(syn)	over them

Examples:

• Ní chuirfinn tharstu é = I wouldn't put it past them (GE)
• T'eh mooaralagh harrym = He is lording it over me (GV)
• Huitt eh harroo = It fell over them (GV)

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Between

GE	GA	GV	EN
idir	eadar	eddyr	between
eadrainn(e)	eadarainn(e)	eddyr ain	between us
eadraibh(se)	eadaraibh(se)	eddyr eu	between you (pl/frm)
eatarthu(san)	eatarra(san)	eddyr oc	between them

Examples:

• Eadrainn féin = Between outselves (GE)
• D'éirigh eatarthu = They fell out (GE)
• Thàinig i eadrarainn = She came between us (GA)
• A bheil dotair eadaraibh? = Is there a doctor among you? (GA)
• Eddyr shoh as shid = What with one thing and another (GV)
• Eddyr daa stoyl ta'n thoyn er y laare = Between two stools the arse is on the floor (GV)

Find out more about these and related words on the Celtiadur blog

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Next to / Along with / Besides

GE	GA	GV	EN
fara	farradh	marish	along with
faram(sa)	faram(sa)	marym(s)	along with me
farat(sa)	farat(sa)	mayrt(s)	along with you (sg)
fairis(san)	faradh(san)	marish(yn)	along with him
farae(se)	faraiste(se)	maree(ish)	along with her
farainn(e)	farainn(e)	marin(yn)	along with us
faraibh(se)	faraibh(se)	meriu(ish)	along with you (pl/frm)
faru(san)	fara(san)	maroo(syn)	along with them

Examples:

• Bhí sé faru = He was with them (GE)

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To / Against / Towards / With

GA	GV	EN
ri	rish	to/against
rium(sa)	rhym(s)	to me
riut(sa)	rhyt(s)	to you (sg)
ris(san)	rish(yn)	to him
rithe(se)	ree(ish)	to her
rinn(e)	rooin(yn)	to us
ribh(se)	riu(ish)	to you (pl/frm)
riutha(san)	roo(syn)	to them

This preposition was used in Old Irish but is no longer used in Modern Irish. Le is used instead.

Examples:

• Tha mi a' bruidhinn ruibh = I'm talking to you (GA)
• Dhealaich sinn riutha = We parted from them (GA)
• Cha nel eh rieau er loayrt rhym = He has never spoken to me (GV)
• Cha row y speyr coardail rhym = The climate disagreed with me (GV)

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By/Beside

GV	EN
liorish	by
liorym(s)	by me
liort(s)	by you (sg)
liorish(yn)	by him
lioree(ish)	by her
liorin(yn)	by us
lieriu(ish)	by you (pl/frm)
lioroo(syn)	by them

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Examples

• Screeuyn y chur liorish chaghter = Send a letter by hand
• Skeabit ersooyl liorish yn tidey = Washed away by the tide
• T'ad shiaulley liorish ny rollageyn = They go by the stars
• T'eh gobbragh liorish gaal = It works by steam
• Ta enney aym er liorish loaghtey = I know it by touch
• Ta mee fakin liorish yn eddin ayd dy ren oo coayl = I gather from your face that you lost
• V'eh currit jeh'n choorse echey liorish y gheay = He was driven off his course by the wind
• V'eh er ny lhieggey liorish gleashtan = He was knocked down by a car

Sources

http://www.irishpage.com/quiz/preppron.htm
http://www.nualeargais.ie/gnag/praepro.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Gaelic_grammar
http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/manxsoc/msvol02/chap20.htm
http://www.cairnwater.co.uk/gaelicdictionary/

Brythonic prepositional pronouns (Breton, Cornish & Welsh)

Information about Celtic languages

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