Quickie Translation, please.

[turelie]

Greetings!

I have a friend who is looking to get a tattoo that says Three Brothers in Scots Gaelic....can anyone help me with this? I don't want to suggest the wrong thing, since my Gaelic is entirely inadequate.

Sorry to pop in just for this...

Thanks in advance!

(x-posted to mothertongue)

Comments

[doughnutdiary]

'Three Brothers' should literally translate as:

Trì Bràithrean

...but I'd maybe double check that with someone whose Gaelic is better than mine before your friend puts ink to skin!

[kimuro]

triùir bhràithrean

triùir is a collective noun for three people used with the genitive plural and the phrase "three brothers" is one of the examples given in my dictionary.

trì is the number used for any three things that are not people.

[turelie]

Tapadh leat!!

I've been such a slacker in my pursuit of Scottish Gaelic...

Thanks also for the extra info...its nice to get more than just the translation. ^_^

[kimuro]

'S e do bheatha. Àm sam bith.

(You're welcome. Any time.)

[cumfrtblynumb]

I second kimuro's translation. There is a second set of numbers used when talking about people.

I'd be careful about tattoos in languages which you don't speak though!

[turelie]

Yeah I know what ya mean! ^_^ I am a fan of NO words as tattoos outside your childrens' names, if necessary. BUT, this guy asked for a translation, not a lecture, LOL...so that's what I gave him. ^_^

Thanks for seconding the other reply tho...its good to have a second opinion. ^_^