HeyRuaHow to say “back” in Irish
- Irish:
- ais
- English:
- back, side
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “ash” /aʃ/
- Plural:
- aiseanna (backs)
- Genitive singular:
- aise, na haise (e.g. lár na haise, the middle of the axis)
- Genitive plural:
- aiseanna, na n-aiseanna
What does “ais” mean?
“Ais” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- back
- The back or rear side; mainly used in the phrase 'ar ais' meaning back or returning.Also: return, backwards.
“Ais” with the article
The plural of back in Irish is aiseanna. Here is ais after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Ais” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using ais, the Irish word for back.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Phrases with “ais”
Back in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for back?
The Irish for back is ais (pronounced “ash”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is aiseanna. Depending on context it can also mean side.
How do you pronounce ais in Irish?
Ais is said like “ash” (IPA /aʃ/).
What is the plural of back in Irish?
The plural of ais is aiseanna; with the article, na haiseanna means “the backs”.
Does ais have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ais can mean back or side, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does ais sometimes have a t or h in front of it?
Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an ais (the back), a hais (her back), a n-ais (their back), na haiseanna (the backs).
Can I use 'ais' on its own to mean back?
Hardly ever: it appears almost only in phrases like 'ar ais' (back) and 'le hais' (beside, compared with). For the body part use 'droim'.
How do I say 'beside me' with this word?
Use the possessive inside the phrase: 'le m'ais' (beside me), 'le d'ais' (beside you), 'lena ais' (beside him).
