At the very beginning of A1, we learned about an tuiseal gairmeach (the vocative case) and how names change when we speak directly to someone. But if we use a sloinneadh (surname) as well, this also goes into the vocative case, as does a first name. Remember that a isn’t used/present before names which begin with a fuaimreag (vowel) or f + fuaimreag (f + vowel). And ainmean boireann (female names) do not slenderise whereas ainmean fireann (male names) do.
Dòmhnall MacDhòmhnaill | A Dhòmhnaill MhicDhòmhnaill! |
Seumas MacLeòid | A Sheumais MhicLeòid! |
Iain Moireasdan | Iain Mhoireasdain! |
Màiri NicSuain | A Mhàiri NicSuain! |
Fionnghal NicDhòmhnaill | Fhionnghal NicDhòmhnaill! |
Sloinnidhean agus an Tuiseal Ginideach
Surnames and the Genitive (Possessive) Case
Sloinnidhean (surnames) also use the genitive (possessive) case often. When a mac or nic appears in the surname we are actually saying ‘son of …’ or ‘daughter of …’.
Dòmhnall MacDhòmhnaill
Donald son of Donald
bàta Dhòmhnaill MhicDhòmhnaill
the boat of Donald son of Donald
Dòmhnall Sheumais Chaluim
Donald of James of Calum
athair Dhòmhnaill
the father of Donald/Donald’s father
sinnsearachd
ancestry
sloinntearachd
genealogy