Irish-gaelic Numbers

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nikostrate Wednesday 24th of January 2007 05:29:01 PM
numbers - Hi Colm,
tá ceist agam arís ;)

I have noticed that there are different number words in use, for example 4 = ceathar / ceithre. Is the latter one a genitive form?
Go raibh math agat.
Mona

Colm Saturday 27th of January 2007 05:37:08 PM
- Heyya Mona :-)

There are generally two forms of the number: one to count people and one to count things:

a cúig = five (the number)
cúig = five (when in a list: four, five, six etc.)
cúig úll = five apples
cúigear fear = five men

[b]however[/b] four there is a differnt form for counting and for using with nouns

a ceathar = four (the number)
ceathar = four (when in a list: three, four, five etc.)
ceithre úll = four apples
ceathrar fear = four men

Mar sin leat! :-)

PS: Sorry about the delay. I haven\'t been on PB in a while.

nikostrate Saturday 27th of January 2007 07:54:02 PM
- Go raibh math agat! :)

We have those forms for counting persons too in Scottish Gaelic (aonar, dithis, triùir, ceathrar, còignear, sianar, seachdnar, ochdnar, naoinear, deichnear :) ), but I was not aware of the difference between ceathar and ceithre. Thanks for clarifying!
And don\'t worry about the delay, I\'m not here everyday either, and these questions are usually no urgent business ;)

Slán leat,
Mona

Phrasebase Archive
	nikostrate	Wednesday 24th of January 2007 05:29:01 PM
	numbers - Hi Colm, tá ceist agam arís ;) I have noticed that there are different number words in use, for example 4 = ceathar / ceithre. Is the latter one a genitive form? Go raibh math agat. Mona
	Colm	Saturday 27th of January 2007 05:37:08 PM
	- Heyya Mona :-) There are generally two forms of the number: one to count people and one to count things: a cúig = five (the number) cúig = five (when in a list: four, five, six etc.) cúig úll = five apples cúigear fear = five men [b]however[/b] four there is a differnt form for counting and for using with nouns a ceathar = four (the number) ceathar = four (when in a list: three, four, five etc.) ceithre úll = four apples ceathrar fear = four men Mar sin leat! :-) PS: Sorry about the delay. I haven\'t been on PB in a while.
	nikostrate	Saturday 27th of January 2007 07:54:02 PM
	- Go raibh math agat! :) We have those forms for counting persons too in Scottish Gaelic (aonar, dithis, triùir, ceathrar, còignear, sianar, seachdnar, ochdnar, naoinear, deichnear :) ), but I was not aware of the difference between ceathar and ceithre. Thanks for clarifying! And don\'t worry about the delay, I\'m not here everyday either, and these questions are usually no urgent business ;) Slán leat, Mona