How are fractions expressed in Irish? For example, if I wanted to say something like "three-quarters of the state is desert" or "add one-eighth of a teaspoon"...?

GRMA

Redwolf

I'd say it as Is fásach é trí cheathrú den stáit and Cuir (aon) ochtú spúnóige leis. The second doesn't sound especially good in Irish, but that's how I'd say it. It sounds better without the aon, I think. I may have the hyphenation wrong in trí(-)cheathrú.

I think for fractions with 1 as the numerator you can do it like this:

an t-ochtú cuid spúnóige
the eighth part of a spoon(ful)
[I'm assuming that spúnóige works for "spoonful"]

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

Yes.

Is fásach/gaineamhlach trícheathrúnaigh gon/don stáit.
But I suppose that is very dialectical.

1/8
..ochtú cuid...

2/3
..dhá thríú [cuid] ....

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
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Dia dhuit, Redwolf.

There's a very good explanation of fractions on this site. Look for it under the Numbers section "Caibidil a hAon Déag."

http://www.nualeargais.ie/gnag/gram.htm

Nice link, Mick. (and welcome to the forum. )

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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).

GRMA!

Sin nasc an-mhaith. That's a great link.

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