I've been asked for these two sentences in Irish -
What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.
The wolf is my friend. (Is é an mac tíre mo chara - would that be?)
- any suggestions please?

An rud a dtugann an bolb Deireadh an Domhain air, tugann an máistir féileacán air

(I’m not sure what kind of ‘master’ is meant here … a master of what? I just used máistir, for lack of a better word.)


This means the right thing, but I feel like it stresses the wrong thing. It means that the wolf (not something else) is your friend.

Though I can’t of course be sure of the intention behind the phrase in English (it can be read both ways), I’m guessing what’s really meant here is that “the wolf is a friend of mine’; I would say that as is cara liom an mac tíre.

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Not a native speaker.

Always wait for at least three people to agree on a translation, especially if it’s for something permanent.

My translations are usually GU (Ulster Irish), unless CO (Standard Orthography) is requested.

GRMA - I'm not sure myself what kind of master is meant either.

I'd reverse the last one:

Is cara liom é an mac tíre. "The wolf is a friend of mine"

But perhaps wait and see what Bríd thinks is the more natural order.

I think mo chara is a specific friend such as one who is already the subject of a conversation, cara liom/dom is "a friend of mine".

I'm treating an mac tíre in the same way as an deireadh seachtaine here.

The é is optional but used in two of the three major dialects.

Await further input ...

(Crossed with kk)

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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).

It does look better that way round, I agree. GRMA