mo bhean álainn
The English phrase 'my beautiful wife' is translated into Irish as mo bhean álainn.
This phrase is used to refer to one's spouse while expressing admiration for her beauty.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'my woman beautiful'.
Did you know?
- While mo bhean álainn is a lovely sentiment, in many Irish-speaking communities, a person might more commonly use mo chuisle (my pulse) to express deep affection for a spouse.
- If a man describes his wife as mo bhean álainn, the 'bh' is pronounced like a 'v' or 'w' sound, making the word sound more like 'vyan' than 'bean'.
- The root of álainn connects to the concept of being 'fine' or 'noble', suggesting that beauty is tied to high quality or excellence.
Examples in context
- Is tú mo bhean álainn.You are my beautiful wife.
- Sin é mo bhean álainn.That is my beautiful wife.
Example conversation
Conor is introducing Aoife to a friend at a party.
- Conoran t-am ansin, seo mo bhean álainn, Aoife.Hello there, this is my beautiful wife, Aoife.
- AoifeDia duit, a Chonaire.Hello, Conor.
- ConorIs í mo bhean álainn í.She is my beautiful wife.
- AoifeTá sí an-álainn.She is very beautiful.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mo, álainn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
