Please help a newbie translate one word properly

Latest post Wed, Jun 26 2013 4:03 by JohnS. 2 replies.
  • Tue, Jun 18 2013 18:02

    • JohnS
    • Top 500 Contributor
    • Joined on Tue, Jun 18 2013
    • Posts 2
    • Points 26

    Please help a newbie translate one word properly

    Hello, all.  I wrote to the talkirish folks requesting help translating a word, and was directed to the forums.  I already have the translation, but where my concern lies is in the Masculine or Feminine connotation of the word.  I'm trying to step properly here and not make an embarrassing error.  So, without further ado, my email:

    ------------

    Hello!  I was relieved to find your site and a contact link.  I'm in a bit of a bind and I'm hoping your experts can help.
    I'm writing a bit of fiction, and in the story, the protagonist's father (in Ireland) refers to her with a nickname.  I would like that nickname to be the word "butterfly" in Gaelic.  However, when I googled the word, the result from wiktionary, "Féileacán", is indicated as a masculine word.  My protagonist is female, so I am not sure if it appropriate to use the masculine "version" of this word, and I cannot find the answer to converting it to feminine (e.g., something like -ino -> -ina in Spanish).
    Can you help me to find the correct feminine version of this word? 
    Thank you so much
    JS
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    So that's it.  I'm looking for how one would call a girl "butterfly" properly.  Since it is a masculine word (according to wiktionary), I'm unsure of its proper use.
    Source:

    Noun[edit]

    féileacán m (genitive féileacáinnominative plural féileacáin)

    Can you help me with the proper translation?
    Thank you
    • Post Points: 21
  • Tue, Jun 25 2013 22:34 In reply to

    Re: Please help a newbie translate one word properly

    Even if referring to a girl (or girl butterfly) the word would remain the same.  The gender of the word does not always match the gender of the thing it refers to to.  For instance the word for girl (cailín) is a masculine noun.

     

    Hope this helps!

    • Post Points: 5
  • Wed, Jun 26 2013 4:03 In reply to

    • JohnS
    • Top 500 Contributor
    • Joined on Tue, Jun 18 2013
    • Posts 2
    • Points 26

    Re: Please help a newbie translate one word properly

    That's exactly what I needed to know.  Thank you very much!

    • Post Points: 5
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