longbhriseadh
The English word shipwreck is translated into Irish as longbhriseadh.
longbhriseadh is a noun used to describe an event where a ship sinks or runs aground.
Meaning: event where a ship sinks or runs aground (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of long, meaning ship and briseadh, meaning breaking.
Did you know?
- The 'bh' sound in longbhriseadh is pronounced like a 'v', making the word sound more like long-vriseadh to an English speaker.
- The word briseadh is also used in Irish to describe the 'breaking' of a wave against the shore, linking the act of a ship breaking to the natural movement of the sea.
- The word briseadh can also refer to 'breaking' a fast, 'breaking' a record or 'breaking' news, showing that the concept of 'shipwreck' is tied to a very broad Irish definition of 'breaking'.
Example conversation
Conor and Niamh are walking along a rocky beach.
- ConorAn dtuig tú an longbhriseadh seo, a Niamh?Do you understand this shipwreck, Niamh?
- NiamhNí thuigim, ach tá sé an-áille.I don't understand, but it is very beautiful.
- ConorTharla an longbhriseadh seo iadúna an cheating.This shipwreck happened during a storm.
- NiamhIs scéal uaigneach é sin, a Chonaire.That is a lonely story, Conor.
