Ó (from, since)

How to use the Irish preposition ó, meaning 'from' or 'since', including its conjugated forms and the mutations it causes.

Prepositions ó Grammar Mutations

The preposition ó primarily means “from” or “since”. It is used to talk about spatial, temporal, and figurative starting points. Like many Irish prepositions, it combines with pronouns to form a single word and causes initial mutations on the following noun.

Grammar and Mutations

Case

Historically, ó governs the dative case. In modern standard Irish, the dative form of a noun is usually identical to the nominative, so this rule is only noticeable with a few specific nouns.

Initial Mutations

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

When ó is used without an article, it causes lenition.

ó + noun

Base ó Ciarraí

Mutated ó Chiarraí

Rule ó causes lenition on a following noun when there is no article.

Tá sé ag teacht ó Chiarraí. - He is coming from Kerry.

When ó is followed by the singular article an, they combine to form ón. This new form causes eclipsis in the standard language.

ón + noun (singular)

Base ón Gearmáin

Mutated ón nGearmáin

Rule ón causes eclipsis on a following singular noun.

Tháinig an litir ón nGearmáin. - The letter came from Germany.

When ó is followed by the plural article na, they remain separate (ó na) and no mutation occurs.

Faigh cabhair ó na comharsana. - Get help from the neighbours.

Forms with Pronouns (Conjugated Forms)

When ó is followed by a pronoun like “me”, “you”, or “them”, they merge into a single word. These are often called prepositional pronouns or conjugated prepositions.

Person	Standard Form	Emphatic Form	Meaning
1st sg. (I)	`uaim`	`uaimse`	from me
2nd sg. (you)	`uait`	`uaitse`	from you
3rd sg. (he/it)	`uaidh`	`uaidhsean`	from him/it
3rd sg. (she/it)	`uaithi`	`uaithise`	from her/it
1st pl. (we)	`uainn`	`uainne`	from us
2nd pl. (you)	`uaibh`	`uaibhse`	from you
3rd pl. (they)	`uathu`	`uathusan`	from them

Fuair mé litir uait. - I got a letter from you.
Chonaic mé uaim é. - I saw it from me (i.e., from my perspective).

Forms with Possessive Adjectives

When ó is followed by a possessive adjective (my, your, his, etc.), the forms can change and cause different mutations.

ó mo (from my) + lenition: ó mo chara - from my friend
ó do (from your) + lenition: ó do theach - from your house
óna (from his) + lenition: óna athair - from his father
óna (from her) + no mutation: óna máthair - from her mother
ónár (from our) + eclipsis: ónár scoil - from our school
ó bhur (from your, pl.) + eclipsis: ó bhur dteach - from your house
óna (from their) + eclipsis: óna gcairde - from their friends

Usage and Common Phrases

Spatial and Temporal Origin

ó indicates a starting point in space or time.

Spatial: Tar ón bposta. - Come from the post office.
Temporal: Tá mé anseo ó mhaidin. - I have been here since this morning.
Conjunction: It can also act as a conjunction meaning “since” or “as”.
- ó bhí sí tinn - since she was ill

Figurative Origin and Source

It can also indicate a non-physical source.

Fuair mé cabhair ó chairde. - I got help from friends.
Is fear ó Thrá Lí é. - He is a man from Tralee.
Tá sé míle uaidh. - It is a mile from it.

Expressing Need or Want

A very common idiom uses ó to express need or want, often with the verb teastaigh or tá. The structure is: Tá [object] ó [subject].

Tá bainne uait. - You need milk. (Literally: “Milk is from you”)
Teastaíonn spórt uaim. - I want fun.
Teastaíonn uaim labhairt leat. - I want to speak with you.

Cause or Reason

ó can show the reason for a state or feeling.

Bhí sé bodhar ó thorann. - He was deaf from the noise.
Tá mé tuirseach ó shiúil. - I am tired from walking.

In Common Phrases

ó appears in many fixed expressions.

With adjectives: Tá sé deas uait. - That is kind of you.
From… to… (ó...go): ó thús go deireadh - from beginning to end; ó am go ham - from time to time.
With numbers: ó chúig phunt go deich bpunt - from five pounds to ten pounds.
With time: óna trí go dtí a hocht a chlog - from 3 o’clock to 8 o’clock.

Removal or Absence

ó can imply something is away from or absent from someone.

Is cuma liom agam nó uaim é. - I don’t care if I have it or not. (Literally: “…at me or from me…”)
Bí ó bhaol. - Be free from danger.

In Mathematics (Subtraction)

ó is used for subtraction, but the word order is different from English. The number being subtracted comes first.

a dó óna trí sin a haon - 3 - 2 = 1 (Literally: “two from the three, that is one”)

Advanced Forms

In Relative Clauses

When used with the indirect relative particle a or ar, ó combines to form óna or ónar.

Tense	Relative Form	Copula Form	Meaning
Present	`óna`	`ónar(b)`	from which
Past	`ónar`	`ónar(bh)`	from which

An fear óna bhfuair tú an t-airgead. - The man from whom you got the money.
An t-am ónar thosaigh sé. - The time from which it started.

Asking Questions

To ask “from whom?” or “from what?”, you use the conjugated forms of ó with an interrogative word.

Cé uaidh a fuair tú é? - From whom did you get it?
Cad uaidh a tharla sé? - From what did it happen?