I was brought up through English, but use Irish with my children - dodgy grammar included...

One of the things that we don't learn in school is what is sometimes known as 'the language of affection'. I would be delighted if people would give a few ideas of normal, everyday language to use with children.

A few to start us off:

A ghrá (love)

A stóirín (not quite sure how to translate that)

A pháirtín (a native speaker told me of this one, which seems particularly beautiful, meaning 'a part of me' and so can only be used for your own child. I have never heard anyone else ever use it.


Thanks in advance for suggestions,

Saoirse.

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A thaisce (this one has the advantage that, when they're teenagers, you can text them as "a #")

A stór

A stóirín

A chroí

A leanbh

A pheata

Redwolf

That is a good one that I have never heard or thought of.

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Also if anyone has anything like the English 'scallywag', that'd be great too. Not insults, but gentle language, suitable for a child.

Grma.

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A leanbh -

All of those you can use with adults as well as children.



I was going to say - scubaidín - but Wingléacht says it means "hussy".
But I suppose swearwords become words of endearment eventually (at least lose thier original 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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Can someone please translate these so I can see the differences? The only one I know is A chroí.

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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!

A stór means - treasure - though I suppose you could say in English - (my) treasure
A stóirín is the diminutive - (my) little treasure
A leanbh - (my) child
A pheata - (my) pet

There are some listed on this webpage:
http://www.namenerds.com/irish/honey.html

Le gach dea-ghuí,
Gearóid

I just wanted to add that in the file I have (Basic Irish for Parents/ BunGhaeilge do Thuismitheoirí) they say this -
There are also little Irish expressions which you can throw in after a name in order to sound friendlier. They have an effect something like 'love' in English.
A Eddie a stór. - Eddie, love.
A Mháire a stóirín. - Máire, love.
A Nollaig a thaisce. - Nollaig, love.
A Eibhlín a chumann. - Eileen, love
- though now they have brought out a newer version of it in booklet form with a choice of CD according to which dialect you want.

I always call my little girl "a chuisle", which I understand to mean "my blood" or "my pulse", though its used as a term of endearment.