The etymology for nocht, meaning "naked" is very straightforward, coming from Old Irish nocht (naked, bare, uncovered), from Proto-Celtic *noxtos, which is in turn from Proto-Indo-European root *nogw-, also meaning "naked". It is related to the English "naked".
You might see the rhyming phrase an bocht is an nocht: the poor and the naked.
Naked Feet
The etymology for the adjective cosnochta, meaning “barefooted” is:
cos (foot) + nochta (nude) → cosnochta (barefooted)
Ó Dónaill’s Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla (1977) mentions the following usage:
Arán, prátaí cosnochta: dry bread, potatoes
Braon tae cosnochta: a drop of tea by itself
So unbuttered bread and potatoes and tea without milk or sugar would translate as barefooted bread, potatoes and tea respectively.
I have previously collected several interjections in a post about onomatopoeia, but here’s is a list of ones native to Munster collected by Cork Irish (see source); going specifically into Gaeltacht regions within the province.
As you may be aware, interjections may often be difficult to translate. Take uh-oh for example—there is no perfect synonym for it!
Note: If you plan on using these, reading up on Munster sounds and pronunciation could be helpful.
Getting People’s Attention
Airiú
Often translated as ‘so’ or ‘indeed’, but with “great energy and with intense conviction” (Ua Laoghaire).
Airiú? Cad ’tá ort?
So, what’s up?
Why, what’s up?
Féach, airú!
Why, look!
An airíonn tú?
Do you follow? Ya feel?
This is literally “do you sense/perceive”?
Cogar
Listen! Here! A word with you!
Dhe and Dhe Mhuise
Indeed, really!
Dhe ’gus
Why, then!
Éist
Listen, hold your tongue!
I’ve covered this before.
Féach
Look here!
The singular is used indiscriminately.
‘gloistí
Do you hear? Just you listen to that! How do you like that!
Is dó and is dóin
However, indeed, well!
Ohó
Well now!
‘sea and ‘sea, anois
The equivalent of “well”
Teacht!
Yes?
Used to get one person’s attention; for people very close in proximity, including right in front of the speaker
Getting Animals’ Attention
Hagha and hó
Often used to get animals to move, and is most often paired with muc, bó, cat and so on. The vocative is only observed when followed by bó, for whatever reason.
