Focal an Lae #144
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: bris (BRISH) [b′r′is′]
Meaning: bris = to break; to cash; loss
Usage:
- Ná bris do chos! (NAW BRISH duh KHOS) [naː b′r′is′ də xos] = Don’t break your leg!
- Bhris sé a fhocal. (VRISH shay uh OK-uhl) [v′r′is′ s′eː ə okəl] = He broke his word.
- Brisfidh mé an seic. (BRISH-uh may uhn SHEHK) [b′r′is′ə m′eː ən s′ek′] = I'll cash the cheque (check).
- Ní maith liom do bhris. (NEE MAH lyuhm duh VRISH) [n′iː mah l′um də v′r′is′] = I sympathise with your loss. (lit., is-not good with-me your loss)
History: Old Irish “brisid” (breaks) comes from Indo-European *bhri-s-, from the root *bhréi- (to cut, break).
An English cognate is “debris”, which comes from the French “briser” (to break), which derives from Vulgar Latin “brisare” (to press grapes),
which is believed to come from a Gaulish (i.e., Celtic) word.
Scottish Gaelic: bris