As (from, out of)

The preposition as primarily means “out of” or “from”. It is a very common preposition that you will encounter in phrases describing origin, location, and a wide variety of idiomatic expressions. Like many Irish prepositions, it combines with pronouns to form a single word and causes initial mutations on the following noun.

Case

The preposition as is always followed by the dative case. In modern Irish, the dative form of a noun is usually identical to the nominative, except after the singular definite article, where lenition occurs on feminine nouns and slenderisation may occur on masculine nouns.

Initial Mutations

The mutation caused by as depends on whether it is followed by the definite article an.

Without the Article

When as is followed by a noun without the article, it causes no initial mutation.

• as baile - out of a town
• as Corcaigh - from Cork

With the Article

In Standard Irish, as followed by the singular definite article an causes eclipsis.

• as an mbaile - out of the town
• as an gcathair - out of the city

There are several dialectal variations to this rule.

Asking Questions with ‘as’

To ask questions about origin or source using as, you use question words like cé, cad, or cá.

• cé as? - from whom…?
• cad as / cá has? - from what…? / from where…?

When used in a copula sentence, these phrases ask about a person’s or thing’s origin.

• Cá has tú? - Where are you from?
• Is as Baile Átha Cliath mé. - I am from Dublin.

Conjugated Forms

When as is followed by a pronoun, they combine to form a single word.

Common Uses of ‘as’

The preposition as has a wide range of meanings beyond its core sense of “out of”.

Location, Origin, and Movement

• Spatial “out of”:
  • as amharc - out of sight (the opposite of ar amharc, “in sight”)
• Origin “from”: Used with the copula to state where someone is from.
  • Is as Béal Feirste é. - He is from Belfast.
• Starting point “from”:
  • as sin go hÉirinn - from there to Ireland
  • i bhfad as seo - far from here
• Direction “away from”:
  • as guais - out of danger
  • as an imirt - out of the game
• Position “at”: To indicate a quality at a specific point.
  • géar as an mbarr - sharp at the top

Source and Cause

• Source of a perception:
  • Tá boladh as an madadh. - The dog smells. (Literally: “A smell is out of the dog.”)
• Source of a name (“after”):
  • Baisteadh as a athair é. - He was named after his father.
• Source of knowledge (“by”):
  • Aithním as a shúil é. - I recognise him by his eye.
• Source of a conclusion (“from that”):
  • Tuigim as. - I understand from that / Therefore I understand.
• Psychological source (“out of”):
  • as fearg - out of anger
• Source of pride, thanks, or trust (“of”, “for”):
  • Tá bród orm asat. - I am proud of you. (Literally: “Pride is on-me out-of-you.”)
  • Go raibh maith agat as an obair seo. - Thank you for this work.
  • Tá muinín agam aisti. - I trust her. (Literally: “Trust is at-me out-of-her.”)

Composition, Selection, and Medium

• Composition (“of”): Used for materials.
  • déanta as adhmad - made of wood
• Selection (“from”, “of”):
  • bain rogha as - to choose from
  • duine as beirt - one of two
• Medium (“in”, “with”):
  • Nigh as uisce é. - Wash it in water.
• Language (“in”):
  • as Gaeilge - in Irish
  • as Béarla - in English

State and Condition

• Out of function:
  • as ord - out of order
  • as úsáid - out of use
• Mistaken or lost:
  • as bealach - off the path, mistaken
• Lack (“without”):
  • as obair - without work, unemployed
• Turned off:
  • Tá an raidió as. - The radio is off.
  • Chas mé an tine as. - I turned off the fire.
• Alone: The phrase as ... féin means “alone”.
  • Tá mé ag siúl as féin. - I am walking alone.
  • Tá asainn féin anois. - We are alone now.