Obbyr - Employment
Cre ta'n obbyr ayd? - What is your job?
Note that people also use 'Startey' for job. The dictionary says this is job as in
chore, not as in employment, so who am I to disagree? Be that as it may occupations
are generally formed by adding an extra bit to the end of a root verb or noun. These
are examples only, don't worry about learning them.
-der
Cloieder - Actor moogheyder aile - Fireman
Fuinneyder - Baker drappeyder sleityn - Mountain climber
Slaader - Painter (dec) shappeyder - Shopkeeper
Thummeyder - Diver iuder - Drinker
Leighder - Lawyer stiureyder - Director
Claarder - Programmer
-eyr, -deyr, -teyr
Seyr - Carpenter Feeackleyr - Dentist
Peinteyr - Painter (artist) Shelgeyr - Hunter
Scrudeyr - Writer Shiolteyr - Sailor
-agh, -dagh, -tagh
Eirinagh - Farmer Immanagh - Driver
Obbrinagh - Mechanic Saualtagh - Saviour
Ynseydagh - Pupil
Another way in which occupations are described is by adding Fer (male) or Ben (female)
before a verb or noun. e.g.
Fer kiaullee - Musician (m) Ben lhee - Doctor (f)
Fer oik - Officer (m) Fer reill - Ruler (m)
Ben ynsee - Teacher (f) Ben-ainstyr - Mistress
Fer y phost - Postman
Some occupations however defy grouping either because the occupation is itself the
root to which things are added, or because they are loan words from other languages
or any other reason. - Who said languages had to be logical anyway?
Sidoor - Soldier (archer) Meoir shee - Policeman
Briw - Judge Buitchoor - Butcher
Gyn obbyr - Unemployed Saggyrt - Priest
Gaaue - Blacksmith
Obbyr - Employment
(cont.)
There are several ways to answer the question - What is your job? - Here are some
of them.
Ta mee my haggyrt. - I am a priest. (I am in my state of...)
T'ou dty ven ynsee - You (f) are a teacher.
T'eh ny sidoor - He is a soldier
Ta mee gobbraghey da'n vuitchoor. - I work for (to) the butcher.
She gaaue Juan - John is a smith. ('Tis a smith, John)
1. What is your job?
2. I am unemployed at the moment.
3. But before that I was a judge.
4. Why aren't you a judge now?
5. I left that job to drive a bus.
6. Were you a good driver?, No.
7. Derek is a butcher in Castletown.
8. The baker made bread for us.
9. There are not many soldiers on Mann now.
10. James is a carpenter in Ramsey.
11. Can we go home now?
12. Is the girl going to your house often? I'm not sure.
13. Who was saying that they will come home tonight?
14. Perhaps William will be seeing Peter before Saturday.
15. Put these large soldiers on that table Mary.
16. I don't have enough men, said the farmer.
17. He hasn't bought a new house.
18. Have they left the house yet?
19. The boat was coming from the East.
20. The north wind was blowing in the house.
21. England lies south of Scotland.
22. Mary came from the mountains in the north.
23. He was a diver, years ago.
24. The mechanic fixed the engine.
25. I answered them, "No."
26. The mountaineer could not find a mountain.
27. It is up there said the sailor.
28. He paid her five pounds for it.
29. I didn't pay attention to my mother.
30. I couldn't see my hands in the water.
31. She was with us when we ate dinner.
32. It was too small to notice.
33. Can I take the book away from you?
34. There wasn't any bad in her.
35. The policemen were coming towards us.
36. Do you remember coming home last night?
37. I believe his coat is too wet to wear.
38. Why doesn't he come with us?
39. They built that house before I came to Douglas.
40. I opened the door and the cat flew out.