Focal an Lae #275
The Word of the Day in Irish
Word: cuma (KU-muh) [kumə]
Meaning: cuma = equal, the same
Usage:
- Is cuma liom. (ISS KU-muh lyum) [is kumə l′um] = It doesn’t matter to me, it’s all the same to me. (lit., tis equal with-me)
- Is cuma cá bhfuil sé. (ISS KU-muh KAW WILL shay) [is kumə kaː vil′ s′eː] = It doesn’t matter where he is.
- Is cuma fúmsa! (... FOOM-suh) [... fuːmsə] = Never mind about me!
History: Old Irish “cummae” comes from Indo-European *kom-smiyo-, composed of the root elements *kom (beside, with, by) and *sem- (one, as one).
The first element is found in English borrowings from Latin such as “combine” and “compose” and the second element is cognate with English “same”.
Scottish Gaelic: coma