nuair

Irish

Etymology

Univerbation of an +‎ uair “the time”. Attested already (though rarely) in Middle Irish ind úair, Old Irish in úair.[1]

Pronunciation

  • (careful speech) IPA(key): /n̪ˠuəɾʲ/[2][3][4]
  • (rapid speech) IPA(key): /n̪ˠoɾʲ/[5], /n̪ˠeɾʲ/[6][7], /n̪ˠəɾʲ/[8]

Conjunction

nuair (with direct relative form of verb)

  1. when
    Nuair a thiocfas an bás ní imeoidh sé folamh. (proverb)
    When death comes he won’t leave empty.

Quotations

  • 1894 March, Peadar Mac Fionnlaoigh, “An rí nach robh le fagháil bháis”, in Irisleabhar na Gaedhilge, volume 1:5, Dublin: Gaelic Union, pages 185–88:
    Nuair d’fhás an gasúr suas, chuir a mháthair ar scoil é, ⁊ bhíodh sí ag tabhairt airgid dó, gan fhios do’n rígh, le leabhairidhe ⁊ neithe cheannach dó.
    When the lad grew up, his mother sent him to school, and she used to give him money unknown to the king, to buy books, &c.

References

References
  1. ^ Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “2 úar, úair”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
  2. ^ Sjoestedt, M. L. (1938), Description d’un parler irlandais de Kerry [Description of an Irish Dialect of Kerry] (in French), Paris: Librairie Ancienne Honoré Champion, § 236, page 175
  3. ^ Finck, F. N. (1899), Die araner mundart [The Aran Dialect] (in German), Zweiter Band: Wörterbuch [Second volume: Dictionary], Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, page 247
  4. ^ Wagner, Heinrich (1959), Gaeilge Theilinn: Foghraidheacht, Gramadach, Téacsanna [The Irish of Teelin: Phonetics, Grammar, Texts] (in Irish), Institiúid Ard-Léinn Bhaile Átha Cliath [Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies], section 235, page 84; reprinted 1979
  5. ^ Mhac an Fhailigh, Éamonn (1968), The Irish of Erris, Co. Mayo: A Phonemic Study, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, section 296, page 136
  6. ^ de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1975), The Irish of Cois Fhairrge, Co. Galway: A Phonetic Study, revised edition, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, § 42, page 11
  7. ^ Quiggin, E. C. (1906), A Dialect of Donegal, Cambridge University Press, § 89, page 36
  8. ^ Breatnach, Risteard B. (1947), The Irish of Ring, Co. Waterford: A Phonetic Study, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, →ISBN, section 400.1, page 85

Further reading

  • Dinneen, Patrick S. (1927), “nuair”, in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, 2nd edition, Dublin: Irish Texts Society, page 801; reprinted with additions 1996, →ISBN
  • Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “nuair”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN

Scottish Gaelic

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • (Lewis) IPA(key): /n̪ˠuəð/, /n̪ˠuð/, /n̪ˠeð/, /eð/[1]
  • (Uist) IPA(key): /n̪ˠuəɾʲ/, /n̪ˠəɾʲ/, /n̪ˠuɾʲ/[2][3]
  • (Barra) IPA(key): /n̪ˠuəɾʲ/, /n̪ˠuɾʲ/, /n̪ˠɛɾʲ/[4]

Conjunction

nuair

  1. when (relative/non-interrogative)
    Tha i as toilichte nuair nach eil e a' seinn. ― She is happiest when he isn't singing.
    Nì mi sin nuair a bhios àm agam. ― I'll do it when I have time.
    Bha i dorcha nuair a ràinig iad an t-eilean. ― It was dark when they reached the island.

Usage notes

  • If followed by the future tense, the relative future tense is used.
  • In the sense "at what time" cuin is used instead.
    Innis dhomh cuin a thèid iad ann. ― Tell me when will they go there.

Synonyms

References

  1. ^ Oftedal, M. (1956), A linguistic survey of the Gaelic dialects of Scotland, Vol. III: The Gaelic of Leurbost, Isle of Lewis, Oslo: Norsk Tidsskrift for Sprogvidenskap
  2. ^ John MacPherson (1945) The Gaelic dialect of North Uist (Thesis)‎[1], Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh, page 176
  3. ^ Mac Gill-Fhinnein, Gordon (1966), Gàidhlig Uidhist a Deas, Dublin: Institiúid Ard-Léinn Bhaile Átha Cliath
  4. ^ Borgstrøm, Carl Hj. (1937), The dialect of Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Oslo: Norsk Tidsskrift for Sprogvidenskap
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