Vocative Case

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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 aL (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)

Common Nouns

Nouns that form the genitive by attenuation

singular'

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

  • balach --> a bhalaich

plural vocative prefixes a, which lenites the noun, Use the genitive plural (often identical to the nominative singular), and suffix an -a

  • a bhalacha

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 as the common singular

  • cas --> a chas

plural

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

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

plural

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

Nouns that form the genitive by suffixing a consonant (-d, -n, -ach etc)

singular

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

plural

vocative prefixes a, which lenites the noun, drop the consonant ending of the common plural

  • litrichean --> a litriche


See Also

External Links

References

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