Indulgences

1. pionta

   Pint

   Usage

   The standard pub measure. An Irish or British pint is 568 ml, larger than the US pint of 473 ml. The plural is "piontaí"

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun

2. beoir

   Beer

   Usage

   The general word for beer. Stout is "leann dubh" and cider is "leann úll"

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun, genitive "beorach", plural "beoracha"

3. leann dubh

   Stout (dark beer)

   Usage

   The most-drunk beer in Ireland; in practice people order it by brand (Guinness, or Murphy's and Beamish in Cork). A bottle of stout is "buidéal leann dubh". Expect to wait while the pint settles

   Grammar Note

   "Leann" is masculine, so "dubh" (black) is not lenited. Compare "putóg dhubh" (black pudding), where the same adjective is lenited after a feminine noun: a clear illustration of how gender drives the mutation

4. leann úll

   Cider

   Usage

   "Leann úll" is cider. Co. Tipperary (Munster) is the best-known cider country, and in summer it is usually served over ice

   Grammar Note

   "Leann" (masculine) with the genitive of "úll" (apple)

5. fuisce

   Whiskey

   Usage

   The English word "whiskey" comes from Irish "uisce beatha" (water of life); "fuisce" is the borrowing back from English. Irish whiskey is typically triple-distilled

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun

6. poitín

   Poitín (poteen, home-distilled spirit)

   Usage

   Traditionally home-distilled, illicit whiskey. Licensed poitín is now sold legally, including in souvenir shops, and is an EU-recognised geographical indication. Unlicensed home distillation remains illegal and unregulated in strength

   Grammar Note

   "Pota" (pot) plus the diminutive "-ín", literally "little pot". Masculine noun

7. scailtín

   Hot whiskey

   Usage

   Hot whiskey. Today it is whiskey with hot water, sugar and a lemon slice studded with cloves: the standard winter and head-cold drink

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun

8. deoch caife Gaelach

   Irish coffee

   Usage

   Coffee with whiskey and sugar, topped with cream. "Irish coffee" is "deoch caife Gaelach" in Irish. It is said to have been invented at the flying-boat base at Foynes, Co. Limerick, in the 1940s

   Grammar Note

   "Deoch" (drink, feminine), "caife" (coffee) and "Gaelach" (Irish). The adjective attaches to the masculine "caife" immediately before it, so it is not lenited; do not write "Ghaelach" by carrying over the gender of "deoch"

9. toitín

   Cigarette

   Usage

   Ireland was the first country in the world to ban smoking indoors in all workplaces, pubs and restaurants, in March 2004. To smoke in a pub you go outside to the smoking area. The plural is "toitíní"

   Grammar Note

   "Toit" (smoke) plus the diminutive "-ín". Masculine noun

10. tobac

    Tobacco

    Usage

    Tobacco as a material, including pipe tobacco. A cigarette is "toitín" and a cigar is "todóg"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun, with the variant "tobaca"

11. todóg

    Cigar

    Usage

    The 2004 indoor smoking ban covers cigars as well. The plural is "todóga"

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun, genitive "todóige"

12. milseán

    Sweet, candy

    Usage

    "Milseán miontais" is a peppermint sweet. The plural is "milseáin"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun, formed from the adjective "milis" (sweet)

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