not·charaim
The Old Irish for "I love you" is not·charaim. It is also called rot·charus.
Meaning: expression of love (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Old Irish | Note |
|---|---|
| not·charaim | |
| rot·charus | I have come to love you |
A religious poem addresses Christ with not·charaim. The sagas also use rot·charus, "I have come to love you".
What does it mean word for word?
no is a particle that carries the pronoun, t means "you" and charaim means "I love", from the verb caraid, "loves". The pronoun softens c to ch.
Which one should you use?
The noun for love is serc.
How does it change in a sentence?
Old Irish places object pronouns inside the verb, so "you" sits between the particle and the verb. The raised dot marks where the stressed part begins.
How do you pronounce it?
The ch is pronounced as in Scottish "loch".
Did you know?
- The verb caraid, "loves", is related to Latin cārus, "dear", the source of words such as "charity".
Examples in context
- Not·charaim, a Chríst.I love you, O Christ. (poem, AD 982)
- Rot·charus ar th'airscélaib.I have fallen in love with you from the stories about you. (Táin Bó Cúailnge)
