[Vocabulary] Is machree understood by most English Speakers

Hi,

I am listening a song in English titled Mother Machree. I found machree is an Irish word, which means my dear.

I wonder whether or not "machree" is understood by most native speakers of English?


Thank you!

thedaffodils said:

I am listening to a song in English called "Mother Machree". I found out that "machree" is an Irish word, which means "my dear".

I wonder whether or not "machree" is understood by most native speakers of English?

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I've known that song for 70 years without realising that! I can't speak for 'most English speakers', though.

I always thought it was her name.

Please note my amendments to your post.

I've never heard of the song and I've never heard of the word. I would not understand it if I heard it (well, I suppose I would understand it now because you've told me what it means!)

thedaffodils said:

Hi,

I am listening a song in English titled Mother Machree. I found machree is an Irish word, which means my dear.

I wonder whether or not "machree" is understood by most native speakers of English?


Thank you!

Click to expand...

I have known this song for many years and learned the meaning of the word along the way. I suspect, though, that most people think that it is her last name.

I've never heard the word either. I would venture to say most native English speakers haven't either, since there are now a few of us here.

I expect the reason I and others thought it was her name is that it's capitalised not only in the title (which is only to be expected), but also in the chorus.

(Also here.)

It's "mo chroí" in irish Gaelic. It means "my heart", "my love", "my dear".

bhaisahab said:

It's "mo chroí" in irish Gaelic. It means "my heart", "my love", "my dear".

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Is it written "Machree" phonetically or is that an error? I'm trying to imagine what would have happened if "Mother Mo Chroi" had been the title.

emsr2d2 said:

Is it written "Machree" phonetically or is that an error? I'm trying to imagine what would have happened if "Mother Mo Chroi" had been the title.

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Unfortunately I don't do phonetic symbols, which makes it difficult to explain. "chroí" (note the accent over the "i") is pronounced "kree" but with a softish "k". The "o" in "mo" is indistinct and could be heard as "a". This is true for the dialect of Irish with which I am familiar, Galway/Mayo. There are regional differences in the Irish language.

This makes me wonder if there is some hidden meaning to "Me and Bobby McGee."

konungursvia said:

I've never heard the word either. I would venture to say most native English speakers haven't either, since there are now a few of us here.

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I'll add my ignorance.