Just a few details I need help working out...

What's the difference between "fuar" and "air"? I've seen fuar used to describe weather, and air used to describe water. Is it like the difference between the English "cold" and "cool" (and if so, which is which)? When would one be used and not the other?

Similar question for "go hálainn" and "galánta". I've seen both translated as "beautiful" but I haven't yet grasped if there is a difference. Are they interchangeable? Is it like the difference between the English "beautiful" and "pretty" (and if so, which is which)? Or would you use one for specific things and not the other?

Thanks, as always.

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I'm very much a beginner learner. Don't hesitate to correct me, as long as you explain why. This is how I learn best!

I don't think I ever came across air being used that way. Can you give an example?

I would say that go hálainn is beautiful, and galánta is elegant. But I think the difference is clearer in English than in Irish. In English, you wouldn't really say that the weather is "elegant" but you can say "lá galánta" for nice day.

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Táim ag foghlaim fós. Fáilte roimh gach aon cheartúchán.

Mick, here's one example I saw recently:

Cuir an sconna air.
http://talkirish.com/blogs/wordaday/arc ... a-tap.aspx

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I'm very much a beginner learner. Don't hesitate to correct me, as long as you explain why. This is how I learn best!

Ah, I see what happened now. "Cuir an sconna air" means "Turn on the tap." It's probably a typo.

Cuir air = put on, turn on, switch on etc.

Edit: Now that I think about, I ain't too sure about the whole sentence. Should it be "Cuir air an sconna"? Or is "Cuir an sconna air" acceptable too?

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Táim ag foghlaim fós. Fáilte roimh gach aon cheartúchán.

I frequently find discrepancies like that in their (talkirish.com) sentences. Simple little things, but confusing for a learner, such as:

Tá mé mall don bhus!
translated as:
I am late for my bus!

I can't remember the others off the top of my head (and my notes are at home), but this is not the only time you'll run into such errors.

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Táim ag foghlaim Gaelainn na Mumhan

Tá fáilte roim nach aon cheartú!
I am a learner. Any translations offered are practice and should not be used unless confirmed.

I think it's either/or, Mick.

I think with orders, putting the pronoun straight after the verb effectively emphasizes the object (in this case an sconna).

So, Cuir an sconna air effectively emphasizes the state you want the tap in, i.e., "on". Cuir air an sconna emphasizes what you want turned on, i.e., the tap.

For unmarked sentences, it is more usual to put the compound pronoun at the end.

Bain díot do chóta ! Take your _coat_ off.
Bain do chóta díot ! Take your coat off. or Take your coat _off_.

Bhain sé a chóta de. He took his coat off.
Bhain sé de a chóta. He took his _coat_ off.

Could be wrong about that, though, so wait for more input ...

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

So, "Cuir an sconna air." should be translated as "Turn the tap on."

Not, "Turn on the cold tap." as they have translated it. Right?

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I'm very much a beginner learner. Don't hesitate to correct me, as long as you explain why. This is how I learn best!

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).

And because of that, this whole time I've seen "air" I thought it meant "cold." LOL

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I'm very much a beginner learner. Don't hesitate to correct me, as long as you explain why. This is how I learn best!

I think "galánta" is a most common word in Donegal for "beautiful".

We wouldn't really say "lá galánta" in Conamara, we'd say "lá breá" "lá álainn".

We do use "galánta" in Conamara though, but the meaning tends towards "elegant" or "stylish" meaning.

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
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