mar ea

Alternative forms

• mar eadh (superseded)

Etymology

Apparently contracted from mar bha ea (“as it were”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mˠaɾˠ ˈja/ (as if spelled *mar dh’ea)
• (Munster) IPA^(key): /mˠɑɾˠ ˈjɛ/ (as if spelled *mar dh’e)^[1]

Phrase

mar ea

1. used to express skepticism or doubt about the accuracy or veracity of a claim
   • 1939, Peig Sayers, “Inghean an Cheannaidhe”, printed in Marie-Louise Sjoestedt, Description d’un parler irlandais de Kerry, Bibliothèque de l'École des Hautes Études 270. Paris: Librairie Honoré Champion, p. 194:

     Bhí an aimsir caithte agus nuair a bhí an t-árthach chun cuain a fhágaint ní raibh an máta ábalta ar dhul ar bórd, mar bhí sé breóidhte, mar eadh.

     The time was up, and when the vessel was about to leave the harbor, the mate was not able to go aboard because he was ill, he claimed.

   rí mar ea ― a pretended king

   —Tá breá an lá inniu. —Tá mar ea!

   —It’s a fine day today. —The hell it is!

   Tá mar ea gabhar ar an mbóthar romham.

   There is what seems to be a goat on the road before me.

References

Further reading

• “mar” in Foclóir Gaeḋilge agus Béarla, Irish Texts Society, 2nd ed., 1927, by Patrick S. Dinneen.