ríl
To say reel in Irish, use ríl.
ríl means a spool. It is also the word for the lively dance known in English as a reel, and the dance itself is called damhsa ríl.
Meaning: spool (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
In damhsa ríl, the first word means dance.
Did you know?
- The word ríl is an example of how Irish borrowed a term from English to describe both the object and the dance, reflecting the historical influence of English on the language.
- In Irish traditional music, the ríl is distinct from the jig because of its rhythmic drive. While both are fast, the ríl follows a steady 4/4 beat, whereas a jig uses a skipping 6/8 time.
- In the context of Irish traditional dance, the ríl is often performed as a group dance with a specific formation, rather than just as a solo performance.
Example conversation
Oisín and Siobhán are organizing a sewing kit.
- OisínSiobhán, an bhfuil ríl snáithe agat?Siobhán, do you have a spool of thread?
- SiobhánTá, tá sé sa bhosca.Yes, it is in the box.
- OisínAn bhfuil ríl dhonas ann?Is there a brown spool in there?
- SiobhánTá, seiceáil an bosca anois.Yes, check the box now.
