Aimsir an Gheimhridh: January Weather in Ireland
Welcome to our guide about January weather in Ireland! As beginner Irish speakers, you'll learn how to describe winter weather conditions and talk about typical January activities. Let's explore the vocabulary that helps us discuss this coldest month of the year.
Basic Weather Vocabulary
Let's start with essential winter weather terms:
Aimsir (am-shir) = Weather
Fuar (foo-er) = Cold
Sioc (shuck) = Frost
Sneachta (shnak-ta) = Snow
Leac oighir (lack eye-ir) = Ice
Báisteach (baw-shtyakh) = Rain
Gaoth (gway) = Wind
Stoirm (stor-im) = Storm
Practice phrase: Tá sé an-fhuar inniu. (Taw shay on-oor in-new) = It is very cold today.
Describing Temperature
Common phrases for discussing temperature:
Te (che) = Hot
Fuar (foo-er) = Cold
An-fhuar (on-oor) = Very cold
Bog (bug) = Mild
Seaca (shak-a) = Freeze
Teochtaí (chokh-tee) = Temperatures
Practice sentence: Tá na teochtaí ag titim. (Taw na chokh-tee egg ti-tim) = The temperatures are falling.
Winter Weather Conditions
Let's explore different weather conditions:
Sky Conditions
Scamall (ska-mul) = Cloud
Grian (gree-un) = Sun
Spéir (spare) = Sky
Dorcha (dur-a-ka) = Dark
Geal (gyal) = Bright
Precipitation
Fearthainn (far-hin) = Rain
Clocha sneachta (kluk-ha shnak-ta) = Hail
Ceobhrán (kyow-rawn) = Mist
Drúcht (drookt) = Frost
Practice dialogue: A: Cén sórt aimsire atá ann? (Kayn sort am-shir-a a-taw oun?) = What kind of weather is it? B: Tá sé ag cur sneachta. (Taw shay egg cur shnak-ta) = It's snowing.
Weather Expressions
Common phrases for talking about the weather:
Tá sé... (Taw shay...) = It is...
ag cur báistí (egg cur baw-shtee) = raining
ag cur sneachta (egg cur shnak-ta) = snowing
gaofar (gway-fur) = windy
scamallach (ska-mul-akh) = cloudy
grianmhar (gree-un-vur) = sunny
Time-related weather phrases:
ar maidin (er ma-jin) = in the morning
san oíche (san ee-ha) = at night
i rith an lae (i rih an lay) = during the day
Practice sentence: Bhí sé ag cur sneachta ar maidin ach anois tá an ghrian ag taitneamh. (Vee shay egg cur shnak-ta er ma-jin akh a-nish taw on yree-un egg tath-nuv) = It was snowing this morning but now the sun is shining.
A Weather Story
Here's a short story using our weather vocabulary:
"Mhúscail Máire go luath ar maidin. Bhí an spéir dorcha fós. D'fhéach sí amach an fhuinneog agus chonaic sí an chéad sneachta den gheimhreadh.
'A Dhaidí!' ar sí, 'Tá sé ag cur sneachta!'
Bhí áthas uirthi. Chuir sí a cóta, a lámhainní, agus a hata uirthi. Rinne sí fear sneachta sa ghairdín.
San iarnóin, tháinig an ghrian amach agus thosaigh an sneachta ag leá. 'Sin an aimsir in Éirinn duit,' ar a Daidí, ag gáire."
Translation: "Máire woke up early in the morning. The sky was still dark. She looked out the window and saw the first snow of winter.
'Dad!' she said, 'It's snowing!'
She was happy. She put on her coat, gloves, and hat. She made a snowman in the garden.
In the afternoon, the sun came out and the snow started to melt. 'That's Irish weather for you,' said her Dad, laughing."
Indoor and Outdoor Activities
Vocabulary for winter activities:
Indoor Activities
Ag léamh (egg lay-uv) = Reading
Ag féachaint ar an teilifís (egg fay-khint er on tel-i-feesh) = Watching television
Ag cócaireacht (egg koke-er-akt) = Cooking
Ag seinm ceoil (egg shen-im kyole) = Playing music
Outdoor Activities
Ag siúl (egg shool) = Walking
Ag déanamh fear sneachta (egg day-nuv far shnak-ta) = Making a snowman
Ag imirt sa sneachta (egg im-irt sa shnak-ta) = Playing in the snow
Ag bailiú adhmaid (egg bal-yoo eye-mid) = Collecting firewood
Practice sentence: Is fearr liom fanacht istigh nuair atá sé fuar. (Iss far lum fan-akt ish-tig noor a-taw shay foo-er) = I prefer to stay inside when it's cold.
Weather Forecasting
Basic weather forecasting vocabulary:
Réamhaisnéis na haimsire (ray-vash-naysh na ham-shir-a) = Weather forecast
Ag éirí (egg eye-ree) = Rising
Ag titim (egg ti-tim) = Falling
Ag feabhsú (egg fou-soo) = Improving
Ag dul in olcas (egg dul in ul-kas) = Getting worse
Practice phrase: Beidh sé níos fuaire amárach. (Bay shay nees foo-er-a a-mawr-akh) = It will be colder tomorrow.
Remember to practice these weather expressions as you observe the January weather. They'll help you participate in Ireland's favorite topic of conversation - the weather!
Coinnigh súil ar an aimsir! (Kin-ee sool er on am-shir!) = Keep an eye on the weather!
Caoimhe, OLS Community Manager - Irish