Le

Overview

In le, the old prepositions le and re (< Old Irish fri = against) have merged.

Forms

Possessive Combinations

Mutations

• General Rule — le hAoife — with Aoife — Le causes no lenition or eclipsis generally, but adds a h-prefix before vowels.
• With the Article (General) — leis an mbord — with the table — Le combines with an to form leis an, causing eclipsis.
• Dialect Variations:
  • Munster: Eclipses even d and t.
  • Connacht: Adds t- prefix to feminine nouns starting with s (e.g., leis an tsúil).
  • Ulster: Uses lenition instead of eclipsis (e.g., leis an bhord).

Interrogatives

Ownership & Opinions

Ownership (The Copula)

Le is used with the Copula (Is) to assert ownership, translating to “belongs to”.

• Ownership — Is le Cáit an teach — The house belongs to Cáit.
• Possessive Adjective Substitute — an teach leis — his house (the house belonging to him), cois leis — a foot of his.
• Relationships — cara liom — a friend of mine.
• Authorship — “Faust” le Goethe — “Faust” by Goethe.

Subjective Opinions

Use le to express how someone “finds” or judges something.

Physical World

Instrument & Force

• Accompaniment — le Máirtín — with Martin.
• Instrument — le spáid — with a spade.
• Moving Force — le gaoth — with the wind.
  • le sruth — with the current.

Position & Motion

• Proximity/Contact — leis an mballa — against the wall.
  • le tine — close to the fire.
  • cuir le — to add to / put against.
• Motion Along — éirigh le balla — to rise up along a wall.
  • tit le haill — to fall down a cliff.
• Direction — luí le grian — to lie in the sun (towards the sun).
  • tabhair do chúl leo — turn your back to them.
  • tá súil agam le… — I hope for… (have hope in the direction of).
• Directional Adverbs — anuas leat — down with you (come down!).
  • seo libh — off with you! / let’s go!
  • d’imigh sí léi — she went off (with herself).
• Manner of Motion — bhí súil géar leis — he had a brisk walk/step.
• Tendency — tá fána leis — it has a downward slope/tendency.
  • tá casadh chun an chladaigh leis — there is a turn towards the shore.

Abstract & Temporal

Cause, Purpose & Consequence

• Cause — leis an tuirse — with/from tiredness.
  • le greann — for fun / out of fun.
  • le hól — from/by drinking.
  • le gleo — because of the noise.
• Purpose (to) — le balla a phéinteáil — (in order) to paint a wall.
  • neart le n-ól — plenty to drink.
  • scéal le hinsint — a story to tell.
• Consequence — tá costas leis — there is a cost involved (with it).
  • tá trioblóid leis — there is trouble with it.

Time & Duration

• Starting Point — leis an lá — at daybreak.
  • leis an mí — at the beginning of the month.
• Duration/Since — le seachtain — for a week / since a week ago.
  • le fada — for a long time.

Interaction & Comparison

Communication & Interaction

• Speaking — labhair le — speak with/to.
  • déir le — say about.
  • abair leat — speak on / continue speaking.
• Non-Verbal — gáir le — smile at.
  • feadáil le — whistle at.
  • éist le — listen to.
• Meeting/Helping — buail le — meet.
  • ag cuidiú le — helping.
• Agreement/Attitude — (eas)aontaigh le — (dis)agree with.
  • deas le — nice to.
  • fearg le — angry at.
• For/Against — paidir le — prayer for.
  • cúis le — reason for.
  • fianaise le — evidence for.
  • cuir gadhar le — set a dog on/against.

Comparison & Continuity

• Comparison — chomh mór leat — as big as you.
  • fás leat — grow like you.
  • obair le triúr fear — work of (comparable to) three men.
• Either/Or (“might as well”) — tá sé chomh maith agam suí le seasamh — I might as well sit as stand (sit is as good as stand).
• Equality — tá sé chomh cóir agat… — you have as much right…
• Continuity — d’oibrigh mé liom — I continued working / worked on.

Other Roles

Ability & Profession

• Ability — is féidir le — it is possible for (can), tig le — can.
• Profession — dochtúir le leigheas — doctor of medicine, obair le miotal — working with metal.

Miscellaneous

• Turn-taking — is leat… — it is your turn to…
• Carrying/Having — tá sé liom — I have it with me.
• Compound Prepositions — maidir le (regarding), in aice le (beside), in éineacht le (together with).
• Adverbial — leis — also / too (e.g., Bhí mé ann, leis - I was there, too).