Vocative Case

• for a definition of Vocative Case, see Vocative Case (definition)

The vocative case is used when you are calling someone (or more rarely something) by name.

Proper Names

In Gaelic, the vocative is formed by preceding the noun with the particle a^L (the L is not typically written, it is provided here to indicate that it tirggers lenition). If the noun begins with a vowel, then the particle is omitted. If the noun is masculine and ends in a broad consonant, then that consonant is attenuation.

Gender	Initial sound	Way to Form Vocative	Example
Masculine	vowel	attenuate	Aonghais
	consonant	aL+attenuate	a Sheumais
Feminine	vowel	none	Anna
	consonant	aL	a Mhàiri

Chart adapted from Fisher (2004)

Nouns that form the genitive by attenuation

singular'

vocative prefixes a, which lenites the noun; Make the final consonant slender

• balach --> a bhalaich

Nouns that form the genitive by suffixing e

singular

vocative prefixes a, which lenites the noun, otherwise the form of the noun is the same

• cas --> a chas

=Nouns that form the genitive by suffixing a

singular

vocative prefixes a, which lenites the noun, otherwise the form of the noun is the same

• feoil --> a fheoil

See Also

• List of Common Personal Names
• Case (definition)

External Links

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocative_case

References

• Fisher, Muriel (2004) Scottish Gaelic: Level 1. Seattle: Each-Mara Publications