a stór
In Irish, 'my darling' is said as a stór.
a stór is a very common, standard term of endearment used to address partners, children or close family members.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'O treasure', where a is a vocative particle used when addressing someone and stór means 'treasure' or 'store'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some areas, a mhuirnín or a chuisle may be used as regional variations of a stór.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the vocative case, which is why the particle a is used before the noun when addressing someone directly.
Did you know?
- The phrase a stór is used for partners and children but can also be used by strangers in a friendly or patronizing way in certain social contexts.
- While a stór is widely used, some regions prefer a chuisle, which refers to a 'pulse' or 'heartbeat'.
- Although a stór is used to mean 'my darling', the word stór itself is a linguistic relative of the English word 'store'.
Examples in context
- An bhfuil tú ag dul amach, a stór?Are you going out, my darling?
- Tá tú go hálainn inniu, a stór.You look beautiful today, my darling.
- Gabhaim mo bhuíochas leat, a stór.I thank you, my darling.
- A stór, an bhfuil tú go maith?My darling, are you well?
- Feicfidh mé thú níos luí, a stór.I will see you later, my darling.
- Ná bí buartha, a stór.Don't worry, my darling.
Example conversation
A husband and wife are talking in their kitchen in the morning.
- OisínA stór, an bhfuil an caifé réidh?My darling, is the coffee ready?
- SiobhánTá, a thaisce.Yes, my treasure.
- OisínGo raibh maith agat, a stór.Thank you, my darling.
- SiobhánTá fáilte romhat.You're welcome.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, stór, CC BY-SA 4.0.
