HeyRuaHow to say “accent” in Irish
- Irish:
- aiceann
- English:
- accent, accent mark, accent (way of speaking)
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “AK-un” /ˈacən̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- aicinn (accents)
- Genitive singular:
- aicinn, an aicinn (e.g. suíomh an aicinn, the position of the stress)
- Genitive plural:
- aiceann, na n-aiceann (e.g. úsáid na n-aiceann, the use of the accents)
What does “aiceann” mean?
“Aiceann” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- accent
- The stress or emphasis placed on a syllable when a word is spoken.Also: stress, emphasis, word stress.
2 other meanings: accent mark or accent (way of speaking)
- 2accent mark
- A written mark placed over a letter, such as the síneadh fada in Irish.Also: accent, diacritic.
- 3accent (way of speaking)
- A particular way of pronouncing a language, typical of a place or group.Also: accent, brogue, pronunciation.
“Aiceann” with the article
The plural of accent in Irish is aicinn. Here is aiceann after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Aiceann” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using aiceann, the Irish word for accent.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Accent in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for accent?
The Irish for accent is aiceann (pronounced “AK-un”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is aicinn. Depending on context it can also mean accent mark or accent (way of speaking).
How do you pronounce aiceann in Irish?
Aiceann is said like “AK-un” (IPA /ˈacən̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of accent in Irish?
The plural of aiceann is aicinn; with the article, na haicinn means “the accents”. The genitive plural is aiceann, as in úsáid na n-aiceann (the use of the accents).
Does aiceann have more than one meaning?
Yes. Aiceann can mean accent, accent mark or accent (way of speaking), depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does aiceann sometimes have a t or h in front of it?
Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an t-aiceann (the accent), a haiceann (her accent), a n-aiceann (their accent), na haicinn (the accents).
Is 'aiceann' the usual word for someone's regional accent?
In everyday speech the usual word for a regional accent is 'blas', as in 'blas Chiarraí'; 'aiceann' is mainly used for stress and written accent marks.
What is the written accent on Irish vowels called?
It is usually called the 'síneadh fada' or simply 'fada', though 'aiceann fada' is also used.
