Summary
In Ireland, we don’t just feel our feelings we have unique ways to talk about them. With Seachtain na Gaeilge coming up in March, it’s never a better time to dust off these tricks of our language to make big feelings feel easier to handle and discuss with others.
In Irish, feelings are “on” you (not inside or a part of you)
This might sound strange at first, but a simple example will help explain. In English, you might say “I am sad.”
However, as Gaeilge, we instead say “Tá brón orm.”
That means “Sadness is on me.” So, the feeling isn’t part of you, but it’ more like a visitor. It can arrive at any time, but it will also leave us. This can help you remember that your feelings are not a part of you. For negative feelings, its good to remember it is only temporary, and for positive feelings, we can learn to appreciate it, while it visits.
Try it:
- Tá áthas orm — Happiness is on me (I’m happy).
- Tá eagla orm — Fear is on me (I’m scared).
- Tá imní orm — Worry is on me (I’m worried)
Tip: When a hard feeling visits, you can say: “It’s on me now, but it won’t stay forever.” And before long, it will leave again. A great way to help a hard feeling to leave, is to talk about it.
Irish can help us paint pictures of feelings
Lots of Irish words use nature and images so you can almost see and imagine a feeling. There are some great phrases out there as Gaeilge that might better reflect how you are feeling while making it easier for you to share that with someone else. Let’s look at some;
- Sceitimíní — that fizzy, butterfly feeling when you’re excited.
- “Tá tuirse an domhain orm” – the tiredness of the world is on me.
- Croí isteach — “bringing your heart inwards towards another” (in other words, a hug).
If a word creates a picture in your head, it’s easier to understand and talk about. Not all of these phrases are for feelings, there are plenty of other fun phrases to learn:
- Póigíní gréine — “little kisses of the sun” (freckles!).
An Irish feelings toolkit
Now that you have gone through a few examples of how the Irish language can help re-frame and process our emotions and feelings, you can use this useful exercise below for next time an emotion comes to visit that you don’t quite know how to deal with:
Step 1: Spot it
“What feeling is on me right now?” (e.g., brón/sadness or áthas/happiness).
Step 2: Say it
“Tá ___ orm.” (name the feeling that is visiting you)
Step 3: Remember
“Visitors don’t stay forever.”
Step 4: One small action
Breathe, move, talk, draw, listen to music, hang out with friends
Step 5: Reach out
if you still need some help, Ask Childline.
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Key takeaways
- Irish doesn’t trap you inside a feeling or a feeling inside of you, it lets the feeling visit you for a while before moving on.
- If you want a better way of expressing your feelings, you can find helpful phrases within Irish language to help
- Feelings are often visitors, they won't stay forever but it's helpful to recognise them when they are there.
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