bóthar

Irish

Etymology

From Middle Irish bóthar,^[1] from Proto-Celtic *bow-itrom (“cow path”). Cognate with Welsh beidr (“lane, track”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈbˠoːhəɾˠ/^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]
(Cois Fharraige) IPA^(key): /ˈbˠoːɾˠ/^[6]
(Ulster) IPA^(key): /ˈbˠɔhəɾˠ/^[7], /ˈbˠohəɾˠ/^[8]; /ˈbˠoːxəɾˠ/^[9], /ˈbˠɔxəɾˠ/^[10] (the word is rare in Ulster; Sommerfelt says it is found mostly in songs)

Noun

bóthar m (genitive singular bóthair, nominative plural bóithre or bóithrí, abbreviation Br.)

road, roadway
Synonyms: bealach, ród

Téigh trasna an bhóthair. ― Cross the road.

Declension

Declension of bóthar (first declension)

bare forms
	singular	plural
nominative	bóthar	bóithre
vocative	a bhóthair	a bhóithre
genitive	bóthair	bóithre
dative	bóthar	bóithre

forms with the definite article
	singular	plural
nominative	an bóthar	na bóithre
genitive	an bhóthair	na mbóithre
dative	leis an mbóthar don bhóthar	leis na bóithre

Alternative plural: bóithrí (Cois Fharraige)

Derived terms

bóithreán (“road dust”)
bóithreoir (“road-walker; traveller, vagrant”)
bóithrín (diminutive)
bóthar cuarach, cuarbhóthar
bóthar dola, bóthar paidhce
bóthar iarainn
bóthar mór (“main road”)
bóthar rochtana
bóthar trasna (“cross-road”)
crosbhóthar
deisitheoir bóithre (“road-mender”)
fobhóthar
go n-éirí an bóthar leat
leabhar bóithre (“road-book”)
léarscáil bóithre (“road-map”)
mórbhóthar
seachbhóthar
sliosbhóthar
suirbhéir bóithre (“road-surveyor”)
trébhóthar

Descendants

→ Yola: boagher, bargher, bogher

Mutation

Mutated forms of *bóthar*
radical	lenition	eclipsis
bóthar	bhóthar	mbóthar

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

References

^ Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “bóthar”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
^ Sjoestedt, M. L. (1931), Phonétique d’un parler irlandais de Kerry [Phonetics of an Irish dialect of Kerry] (in French), Paris: Librairie Ernest Leroux, pages 112–221
^ Finck, F. N. (1899), Die araner mundart [The Aran Dialect] (in German), Zweiter Band: Wörterbuch [Second volume: Dictionary], Marburg: Elwert’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, page 48
^ Ó Máille, T. S. (1974), Liosta Focal as Ros Muc [Word list from Rosmuck] (in Irish), Baile Átha Cliath [Dublin]: Irish University Press, →ISBN, page 23
^ de Búrca, Seán (1958), The Irish of Tourmakeady, Co. Mayo: A Phonemic Study, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, →ISBN, section 175, page 34
^ de Bhaldraithe, Tomás (1977), Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge: An Deilbhíocht [The Irish of Cois Fharraige: Accidence] (in Irish), 2nd edition, Institiúid Ard-Léinn Bhaile Átha Cliath [Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies], 22 note 1, page 10
^ Lucas, Leslie W. (1979), Grammar of Ros Goill Irish Co. Donegal (Studies in Irish Language and Literature, Department of Celtic, Q.U.B.; vol. 5), Institute of Irish Studies, The Queen’s University of Belfast, page 236
^ Hughes, A. J. (1986) The Gaelic of Tangaveane and Commeen, County Donegal (texts, phonology, aspects of grammar and a vocabulary) (doctoral thesis), Faculty of Arts, Queen’s University of Belfast, page 240
^ Wagner, Heinrich (1959), Gaeilge Theilinn: Foghraidheacht, Gramadach, Téacsanna [The Irish of Teelin: Phonetics, Grammar, Texts] (in Irish), Institiúid Ard-Léinn Bhaile Átha Cliath [Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies], section 87, page 32; reprinted 1979
^ Sommerfelt, Alf (1922), The Dialect of Torr, County Donegal, volume I: Phonology, Christiania [Oslo]: Videnskapsselskapet i Kristiania, section 202, page 72