HeyRuaHow to say “baby” in Irish
- Irish:
- bábán
- English:
- baby, doll
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “BAW-bawn” /ˈbˠɑːbˠɑːnˠ/
- Plural:
- bábáin (babies)
- Genitive singular:
- bábáin, an bhábáin (e.g. cóta an bhábáin, the baby's coat)
- Genitive plural:
- bábán, na mbábán (e.g. éadaí bábán, baby clothes)
What does “bábán” mean?
“Bábán” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- baby
- A very young child, a babe; used affectionately.Also: babe, infant, little child.
“Bábán” with the article
The plural of baby in Irish is bábáin. Here is bábán after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Bábán” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using bábán, the Irish word for baby.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Baby in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for baby?
The Irish for baby is bábán (pronounced “BAW-bawn”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is bábáin. Depending on context it can also mean doll.
How do you pronounce bábán in Irish?
Bábán is said like “BAW-bawn” (IPA /ˈbˠɑːbˠɑːnˠ/).
What is the plural of baby in Irish?
The plural of bábán is bábáin; with the article, na bábáin means “the babies”. The genitive plural is bábán, as in éadaí bábán (baby clothes).
Does bábán have more than one meaning?
Yes. Bábán can mean baby or doll, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does bábán change to bhábán or mbábán?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) bábán becomes mo bhábán (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbábán (eclipsis).
What is the difference between bábán and naíonán?
Bábán is a warm, everyday word for a baby, while naíonán is the more formal word for an infant, used in official or medical contexts.
