rugadh mé
The Irish phrase for "I was born" is rugadh mé.
This phrase is used to state the time or the place of one's birth.
What does it mean word for word?
The word rugadh is the past tense of the verb 'rugadh' (to be born), which is a passive form of 'rug' (to bear/bring forth).
Did you know?
- The verb rugadh is actually a passive form of 'rug', which originally meant 'to lift' or 'to raise'.
- The word rugadh is an impersonal form, which in older Irish could be translated as 'it was born me'. This structure is a remnant of how the language handled events that happen to a person.
- Irish uses a 'VSO' (Verb-Subject-Object) sentence structure, meaning the action of being born rugadh comes before the person mé who was born.
Examples in context
- Rugadh mé i 1988.I was born in 1988.This sentence is useful for stating the year of your birth using rugadh mé.Tatoeba #4773426 by Choctaw_Irish, translation #753316 by CK
- Rugadh mé, a Liam.I was born, Liam.
- Rugadh mé sa Bhaile Átha Cliath.I was born in Dublin.
Example conversation
Oisín and Siobhán are discussing their hometowns.
- OisínRugadh mé i Gaillimh.I was born in Galway.
- SiobhánAn bhfuil tú fós ansin?Are you still there?
- OisínNíl mé, tá mé i mBaile Átha Cliath.I'm not, I am in Dublin.
- SiobhánIs iontach é sin, a Oisín.That is wonderful, Oisín.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
