the1, def. art.1sg.nom.An(lenites consonant, prefixes t to s- of f., except in ordinal numerals; prefixes t to vowel of m.); gen.m.an (aspirates consonant and prefixes t to s-); gen.f. na (prefixes h to vowel); nom.pl.na (prefixes h to vowel); gen.pl.na (eclipses). a(In nom.)The man, the donkey, the woman, the nose, the river, an fear, an t-asal, an bhean, an tsrón, an abhainn. The sixth woman, an séú bean. The man's, priest's, hat, hata an fhir, an tsagairt. The river's bank, bruach na habhann. The donkeys, na hasail. The men’s, the women's, the donkeys' feet, cosa na bhfear, na mban, na n-asal. The Wards, clann Mhic an Bhaird. The Flahertys, muintir Fhlathartaigh. The Welshes, na Breatnaigh. George the Fifth, Seoirse a cúig, an cúigiú Seoirse. P: The wife, an tseanbhean (seo agamsa). How's the throat?cad é mar tá an scornach agat?b(Combines with certain preps.) In the bag, sa mhála. In the bags, sna málaí. Under the table, faoin mbord. From the wall, den bhalla. To the man, don fhear. (With special form of prep.le). With the man, leis an bhfear. c(Before numeral adjs.na or an). The two houses, an, na, dá theach. The three horses, an trí chapall, na trí capaill. dHe is not the person to do that, ní duine é a dhéanfadh rud mar sin. The impudence of it!a leithéid de theallaireacht!He hasn't the patience to wait, níl d'fhoighne aige fanacht. eThe beautiful, an áille; an ní m is álainn. Translated from the French, ón bhFraincis. Coll: The poor, an bocht; na boicht. fHe has the fever, the measles, tá an fiabhras, an bhruitíneach, air. g(Generalising) The dog is our best friend, is é an madra an cara is fearr dá bhfuil againn. h(Distributive) Sixpence the pound, sé phingin an punt. To be employed by the day, bheith ag obair de réir an lae. Twenty-five miles to the gallon, cúig mhíle fhichead in aghaidh an ghalúin. 2(Stressed) He's the doctor here, níl dochtúir eile anseo inchurtha leis. O'Rourke's is the shop for meat, níl siopa (ar fónamh) chun feola ach siopa Uí Ruairc. He’s the man for this sort of work, níl ann ach é chun an tsaghais seo oibre.
the2, adv.(Preceding an adj. or adv. in the comparative degree). aIt will be the easier for you as you are young, tá tú óg agus sin mar is fusa dhuit é; is amhlaidh is fusa dhuit é ón uair go bhfuil tú óg. We are the poorer for his going, is boichtede sinn a imeacht. bThe sharper the point the better the needle, dá ghéire an bior is ea is fearr an tsnáthaid. The sooner the better, dá thúisce is ea is fearr. The less said about it the better, dá laghad a déarfar faoi is amhlaidh is fearr. S.a. MORE 4, WORSE1.
To smile at s.o.'s attempt, gáire faoi choim faoi iarracht duine. The child was smiling in his sleep, bhí fáthadh an gháire ar an leanbh trína chodladh.