Mothúcháin agus Braistintí (Emotions and Feelings)

Expressing emotions helps us connect with others and share our experiences. Irish has beautiful ways to describe feelings, often using the structure "Tá ___ orm" (literally "is ___ on me"). Learning these phrases helps us talk about our emotional states and ask others about theirs.

Basic Emotions

Positive Emotions

• Áthas (aw-has) = Happiness
• Gliondar (glin-dar) = Joy
• Sásamh (saw-sav) = Satisfaction
• Bród (brode) = Pride
• Suaimhneas (soo-iv-ness) = Peace/Calm

Negative Emotions

• Brón (brone) = Sadness
• Fearg (far-ug) = Anger
• Eagla (ag-la) = Fear
• Imní (im-nee) = Worry
• Díomá (dee-oh-maw) = Disappointment

Physical Feelings

• Tuirse (tir-sha) = Tiredness
• Ocras (uck-ras) = Hunger
• Tart (tart) = Thirst
• Tinneas (tin-ass) = Sickness
• Pian (pee-an) = Pain

Using "Orm" with Emotions

In Irish, we often express emotions using the structure "Tá ___ orm" (literally "is ___ on me"):

• Tá áthas orm (Taw aw-has or-um) = I am happy
• Tá brón orm (Taw brone or-um) = I am sad
• Tá eagla orm (Taw ag-la or-um) = I am afraid
• Tá fearg orm (Taw far-ug or-um) = I am angry
• Tá imní orm (Taw im-nee or-um) = I am worried
• Tá tuirse orm (Taw tir-sha or-um) = I am tired

For other people:

• Tá áthas ort = You are happy (singular)
• Tá áthas air = He is happy
• Tá áthas uirthi = She is happy
• Tá áthas orainn = We are happy
• Tá áthas oraibh = You are happy (plural)
• Tá áthas orthu = They are happy

Useful Phrases for Talking About Feelings

Asking About Feelings

• Conas atá tú? (kun-as a-taw too) = How are you?
• Cad é mar atá tú? (kad ay mar a-taw too) = How are you? (Ulster dialect)
• Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? (ken khee a will too) = How are you? (Connacht dialect)
• An bhfuil tú ceart go leor? (on will too kyart guh lyor) = Are you alright?

Responding About Feelings

• Tá mé go maith (Taw may guh mah) = I am good
• Tá mé go hiontach (Taw may guh hin-takh) = I am wonderful
• Níl mé go maith (Neel may guh mah) = I am not good
• Tá mé ceart go leor (Taw may kyart guh lyor) = I am alright

Explaining Why You Feel a Certain Way

• Tá áthas orm mar... (Taw aw-has or-um mar) = I am happy because...
• Tá brón orm mar... (Taw brone or-um mar) = I am sad because...
• Tá eagla orm roimh... (Taw ag-la or-um rev) = I am afraid of...

Sample Conversation

A: Dia duit! Conas atá tú inniu? (Jee-a gwitch! Kun-as a-taw too in-new?) = Hello! How are you today?

B: Tá áthas orm inniu mar tá an ghrian ag taitneamh. Agus tú féin? (Taw aw-has or-um in-new mar taw on yree-an egg tath-nuv. Ah-gus too fay-n?) = I am happy today because the sun is shining. And yourself?

A: Tá tuirse orm. Níor chodail mé go maith aréir. (Taw tir-sha or-um. Neer khud-al may guh mah a-rare.) = I am tired. I didn't sleep well last night.

B: Tá brón orm a chloisteáil sin. (Taw brone or-um a khlish-tawl shin.) = I'm sorry to hear that.

Exercise: Practice Emotional Expression

Share your emotions by:

1. Describing how you feel today
2. Using three different emotion words
3. Asking others how they feel
4. Creating sentences with "orm"

Example answer:

1. Tá áthas orm inniu.
2. Uaireanta, bíonn brón, eagla, nó gliondar orm.
3. Conas atá tú? An bhfuil áthas ort inniu?
4. Tá ocras orm anois. Tá imní orm faoin scrúdú. Tá tuirse orm tar éis an lae.

(1. I am happy today. 2. Sometimes, I feel sadness, fear, or joy. 3. How are you? Are you happy today? 4. I am hungry now. I am worried about the exam. I am tired after the day.)