If the nearest vowel to the letter "p" in a word is "a", "o", or "u", pronounce the letter "p" with lips protruded and rounded. Practice on:

pá, pál, paidir (PAHD-ir), póg, post (pohst), púca, puth (pu), puinn (pwin).

Inside a word or at a word end: stopaim (STOHP-im), iompair (UM-pir), leapa, ceap (kyap), rap (rahp).

To pronounce a "p" when the nearest vowel in the word is "e" or "i", bring the lips in close to the teeth and spread the lips slightly, as in a faint smile. Try: pé (pay*), pic (pik), pian (PEE-uhn), péist (pay*sht), Peadar (PAD-uhr), peann (pyoun).

Inside a word or at a word end: impire (IM-pir-e), teipim (TEP-im), scaip (skahp), scléip (shklay*p).

Finally, practice on these two words that have both broad and slender "p", until you can say the word easily and naturally: píopa (PEEP-uh), páipéar (paw*-PAY*-uhr).

In Lesson 69, the Comhrá (KOH-raw*) contained the sentence "Bíonn rud beag do mo bhodhrú" (duhm VOU-roo). This means literally "There is a little thing to my bothering (or annoying)." "Ag bodhrú" is the verbal noun for the verb "bodhraím" (BOU-reem), I bother. The English word "bother" may have come from this. The word also means "to deafen", and "bodhar" (BOU-uhr or BOH-uhr) means "deaf."

"John is bothering you" becomes: "Tá Seán do do bhodhrú" (duhd VOU-roo). "John is striking you" is: "Tá Seán do do bhualadh" (duhd VOO-luh), literally "John is to your striking."

Here is the entire system for this:

Tá an fear do mo bhualadh; the man is striking me.

Tá an fear do do bhualadh; striking you.

Tá an fear á bhualadh (aw* VOO-luh); striking him.

Tá an fear á bualadh (aw* BOO-luh); striking her.

Tá an fear dár mbualadh (daw*r MOO-luh); striking us.

Tá an fear do bhur mbualadh (duh vwoor MOO-luh); striking you (plural).

Tá an fear á mbualadh; striking them.

"He is praising himself" is "Tá sé a mholadh féin" (aw* VWUHL-uh fay*n). "They were washing themselves" is "Bhí siad á ní féin."

(Bláthnaid and Pól continue attempts to improve television reception.)

Bláthnaid (BLAW*-nid): Cén fad an tsreang ­­ atá uait? (un trang uh-TAW* oo-it) Níl sreang níos faide (FAD-ye) ­­ ná fiche troigh againn (naw* FI-hye tree uh-GIN). How long is the wire that you want? We don't have a wire longer than twenty feet.

Pól (pohl): Sílim go ndéanfaidh sé sin (goh NYA*N-hee shay* shin) ­­ an gnó. Caithfidh mé (KAH-hee may*) ­­ an dréimire, mo chasúr, agus uirlisí eile a fháil (un DRAY*M-i-re, muh k*ah-SOOR, AH-guhs IR-li-shee EL-e uh AW*-il). I think that that will work. I must get the ladder, my hammer, and other tools.

Bláthnaid: Bí cúramach (KOOR-uh-mahk*). Be careful.

Pól: Ó, táim (TAW*-im) níos oilte (IL-te) anois ­­ ná anuraidh (uh-NOOR-ee). Bí cinnte faoi sin (bee KIN-tye fwee shin). Oh, I am more skilled now than last year. Be sure of that.

Bláthnaid: Cá leagfaimid (LAK-hi-mid) an tsreang? B'fhéidir tríd an mballa (BAY*-dir treed un MAHL-uh) ­­ in aice an teilifíseáin (in AK-e un TEL-i-fee-shaw*-in) ­­ agus ansin an spéir (spay*r) ­­ chuig an árasán (hig un AW*-ruh-saw*n) ­­ os ár gcomhair (ohs aw*r GOH-ir). Where will we run the wire? Perhaps through the wall near the television set, and then in the air to the apartment building opposite us.

Pól: Níl sé sin ceadaithe (KAD-i-he) ­­ dúinn. Ach tá smaoineamh eile agam (SMWEEN-uhv EL-e uh-GUHM). Leagaimis an tsreang ­­ trí pholl na heochrach (tree foul nuh HOHK*-ruhk*) ­­ sa doras. Beimid ábalta (BE-mid AW*-buhl-tuh) ­­ an tsreang a chrochadh (K*ROHK*-uh) ­­ ar an mballa ­­ lasmuigh (lahs-MWEE) den teach. We are not allowed to do that. But I have another idea. Let's run the wire through the keyhole in the door. We will be able to hang the wire on the wall outside the house.

Bláthnaid: Ach níorbh fhéidir linn (NEE-ruhv AY*-dir lin) ­­ an eochair a shá (un OHK*-hir uh haw*) ­­ isteach sa pholl. Conas a bheimid ábalta ­­ an doras a chur ­­ faoi ghlas? (fwee glahs). But we wouldn't be able to stick the key into the hole. How will we be able to lock the door?

Pól: Tá an ceart agat. Cuirfaidh mé poll eile ­­ tríd an doras ­­ le mo dhruilire láimhe (GRIL-i-re LAW*-i-ve). Seasfaidh (SHAS-hee may*) ­­ ar an dréimire ­­ agus beidh mé ag obair ann. You're right. I will put another hole through the door with my hand drill. I'll stand on the ladder and I'll be working there.

Bláthnaid: Beidh mé i mo sheasamh (i muh HAS-uhv) ­­ cois an dréimire (kish un DRAY*M-i-re) ­­ agus coinneoidh (kin-YOH-ee) mé greim docht (grem dohk*t) ­­ ar an dréimire ­­ ar eagla (AH-gluh) go sleamhnóidh tú (shlou-NOH-ee too). I'll be standing next to the ladder, and I'll keep a firm grip on the ladder for fear that you will slip.

(c) 1998 The Irish People. May be reprinted with credit.