Who's related to you?
Cò tha càirdeach riut?
Often in stories, or when we are telling the story [or news] about someone else, we explain who they are and who’s related to them.
We learnt a little about names anns an tuiseal ghinideach (in the genitive case) in Cuspair 17 .
We'll have a look at that again here.
Mac piuthar Fhinn
Finn's sister's son
We heard mac piuthar Fhinn (Finn's sister's son) in the story about Diarmad agus Gràinne .
Gaelic doesn't have native words for uncle, aunt, nephew or niece, as Gaels traditionally made the distinction between bràthair m' athar (paternal uncle) and bràthair mo mhàthar (maternal uncle).
The phrase mac piuthar Fhinn means (Finn's (sororal) nephew) and uses the genitive (possessive) case to convey this belonging.
From the examples above you might expect mac peathar Fhinn but in genitive (possessive) phrases like this only the last noun, Fionn , takes the genitive (possessive) case.
Why don't you have a go at this task! If you have a Gaelic‑speaking/learning friend, you could do this together.
Think or talk about the names of any brothers and sisters of each of your parents, and the names of any of your siblings' sons and daughters.
For example:
Tha tuilleadh fiosrachaidh air a' chuspair seo air 26A Duilleag Mìneachaidh.