After a preposition plus an, the next consonant is eclipsed: a second letter is written in front and takes over the sound. B becomes mb, c becomes gc, f becomes bhf, g becomes ng and p becomes bp. In the standard written language d and t are left alone.
Examples
- Tá mé ag dul chuig an gcógaslann.
- I am going to the pharmacy.
- Bhí mé ag an dochtúir inné.
- I was at the doctor yesterday.
- Fuair mé an t-oideas ag an bpoitigéir.
- I got the prescription from the chemist.
The mistake to avoid
D and t stay unchanged in the standard: ag an dochtúir, not "ag an ndochtúir".
Where this fits in
Sláinte agus an Corp, Irish Gaelic A2: Say how you feel, name the parts of the body, and get through a visit to the doctor or the pharmacy.