Hello there,

I am wondering how to translate to Irish the phrase "my friend" in the following context. Two characters in a book are quite different, but have recently become closer due to shared adversity. They are of similar ages. One asks the other his opinion. He says:

"What do you think, my friend?".

From reading other threads, I accept that "mo chara" is a bad translation here. Would it be ok to say:

"Céard a shíleann tú, a chara?".

Would that be OK? I'm just worried that "a chara" gives off a way too formal tone, considering it is used in formal letter writing in Irish. Would you even suggest something else?

Thanks so much for your help!

The vocative doesn't really have anything to do with being formal. Its just how you address someone in Irish.

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Please wait for corrections/ more input from other forum members before acting on advice

Great, thanks.

It's just like saying "O God, help me" in English. We've largely lost the vocative case, and in the few instances like that where we still have it, most people don't realize what it is any more.

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I'm not a native (or entirely fluent) speaker, so be sure to wait for confirmations/corrections, especially for tattoos.

Which leads to things like "Ó mo dhia".

A Dhia! A Dhia!

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A language belongs to its native speakers, and when you speak it, you are a guest in their homes.
If you are not a good guest, you have no right to complain about receiving poor hospitality.

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would it not be A Dhia Ó, traditionally?

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__̴ı̴̴̡̡̡ ̡͌l̡̡̡ ̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡ ̡̡͡|̲̲̲͡͡͡ ̲▫̲͡ ̲̲̲͡͡π̲̲͡͡ ̲̲͡▫̲̲͡͡ ̲|̡̡̡ ̡ ̴̡ı̴̡̡ ̡͌l̡̡̡̡.___

According to Dinneen (young whippersnapper of a dictionary as it may be), it is traditionally:

Ó, a Dhia ó ! "Oh, my God!; Oh God!"

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Múinteoir Gaeilge - Irish Teacher
My "specialty" is Connemara Irish, particularly Cois Fhairrge dialect, but I can also speak Ulster and Munster Irish with native-level pronunciation.
Is fearr Gaeilge ḃriste ná Béarla cliste, cinnte, aċ i ḃfad níos fearr aríst í Gaeilge ḃinn ḃeo na nGaeltaċtaí.
Gaeilge Chonnacht (GC), go háraid Gaeilge Chois Fhairrge (GCF), Gaeilic Uladh (GU), Gaelainn na Mumhan (GM), agus Gaeilge an Chaighdeáin Oifigiúil (CO).