paidrín
/pˠadʲəˈɾʲiːnʲ/standard, masculine
The Irish word for "the rosary" is paidrín. It names both the string of prayer beads and the prayer said on them, and the verb that goes with it is ag rá, "saying".
paidrín is a masculine noun. You can use it for the beads you hold, as in Tá paidrín agam, "I have a rosary", or for the devotion itself, as in Deirim paidrín gach oíche, "I say the rosary every night".
Meaning: Catholic prayer beads (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
paidrín is a diminutive of paidir, "prayer", so it means literally "little prayer".
Is it said differently in some regions?
The vowels and stress shift from dialect to dialect, but the spelling paidrín is the same everywhere.
How does it change in a sentence?
Irish speakers say the rosary rather than pray it, so the usual verb is rá (to say). In the progressive form this becomes ag rá.
How do you pronounce it?
The stress depends on the dialect. In Munster it falls on the last syllable, pa-dreen, while in Galway, Mayo and Ulster it falls on the first syllable. The d is a soft, palatal sound and the final n is soft too.
Did you know?
- The word paidrín is a diminutive of paidir, "prayer", so it literally means "little prayer".
Examples in context
- Tá paidrín agam.I have a rosary.
- Deirim paidrín gach oíche.I say the rosary every night.
- Cheannaigh sé paidrín nua.He bought a new rosary.
Example conversation
Máire asks her friend Seán whether he has brought his rosary to the church.
- MáireAn bhfuil paidrín agat?Do you have a rosary?
- SeánTá, tá sé i mo phóca.Yes, it is in my pocket.
- MáireGo maith.Good.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry paidrín, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of .
