go dtí

Irish

Etymology

The conjunction go (“until”) followed by an archaic subjunctive of tar (“come”). From Old Irish co tí (“until”, literally “until it come”), from co (“until”, nasalising conjunct particle) +‎ tí (“come”, 3sg present subjunctive of do·icc).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡəˈdʲiː/

Preposition

go dtí (plus nominative, triggers no mutation, may take the dative in colloquial language)

1. to

   Tá mé ag dul go dtí an Fhrainc. ― I'm going to France.

2. toward
3. until, up to

Usage notes

• In the meaning "to", used with place names that start with the definite article. Place names that do not start with the definite article take the preposition go instead.
• Because this term originated as a verbal expression, the noun it governs is in the nominative case in the standard language, as can be seen by its mutation effects on masculine singular nouns after the definite article: consonants are not mutated (e.g. go dtí an capall (“toward the horse”)) and vowels take t-prothesis (e.g. go dtí an t-uisce (“up to the water”)). Colloquially, however, the dative may also be found, e.g. go dtí an gcapall/chapall (“toward the horse”), go dtí an uisce (“up to the water”).

Derived terms

• go dtí go
• go dtín (colloquial; contraction with an (“the”))
• go dtína (colloquial; contraction with a (“his, her, their”))
• go dtínár (colloquial; contraction with ár (“our”))

References

• Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “dtí”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN