Gaelic tattoo question

[Arrowyn]

Hey, I'm thinking about getting, mo leannan, tattooed on my ring finger. According to my Gaelic dictionary it means, My Beloved. But I've heard it can also mean concubine. Also I have seen it with, or without, a hyphen. Any ideas? BTW, I'm a lassie. THANKS.

[California Highlander]

"My beloved", "my love", "my sweetheart", or "my darling" in English. I'm only a Gaelic learner, not a native or even fluent speaker, so take it for what it's worth.

Perhaps it has a different connotation in Irish Gaelic? I also think no hyphen. I've not seen it written with a hyphen.

Fàilte! Welcome to the Rabble!

[neloon]

No hyphen. Never heard of the "concubine" idea though it could certainly mean "lover" in the fullest sense. Perhaps "mo ghraidh" would be a slightly more usual modern term of endearment. "leannan" is a little bit "poetic".

[Arrowyn]

Thanks! I wish I knew how to pronounce ghraidh. It looks cool, though.

[neloon]

Thanks! I wish I knew how to pronounce ghraidh. It looks cool, though.

The initial "gh" has no English equivalent - it's like a softened "g". A bit like the "ch" sound which is all breath but with some throat sound too. The rest is just "rye". Of course, he can call you "mo ghraidh" also.
P.S. Just consulted my linguist wife who agrees it's hard to explain without phonetic symbols. I should have left you with "leannan"!!

[Arrowyn]

LOL. ghraidh just looks nice, but it will be embarrassing when I can't pronounce it. I guess my husband and I will have to think about this one a bit before we decide.

[neloon]

The look in the eyes will probably say much more than the tattoo or the spoken word. Anyway, bless you both.

[Arrowyn]

Awww..... Thanks.

[Arrowyn]

Another question. How would one say, Be thou my Vision, in Scottish Gaelic? My friend, who has a couple of tattoos advised not to go with a ring tattoo as they tend to wear off after a few years. We are toying around with some different ideas. Since I love anything historic, we're thinking about a design that looks like something out of the Book of Kells. With mo leannan and be thou my vision somehow incorporated into it.

[neloon]

Arrowyn,
How about
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_Thou...ic_Translation
The Scots Gaelic version seems to have gone through Sabhal Mòr Ostaig = The University of the Highlands and Islands (on Skye) so it should be good.