HeyRuaHow to say “back” in Irish
- Irish:
- cúlaí
- English:
- back
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “KOO-lee” /ˈkuːl̪ˠiː/
- Plural:
- cúlaithe (backs)
- Genitive singular:
- cúlaí, an chúlaí (e.g. geansaí an chúlaí, the back's jersey)
- Genitive plural:
- cúlaithe, na gcúlaithe (e.g. líne na gcúlaithe, the back line)
What does “cúlaí” mean?
- back
- A defending player in field games such as football, hurling or rugby, who plays behind the forwards.Also: defender, fullback, defensive player.
Other Irish words for back: cúl (back), ais (back), droim (back), tacaigh (support)
“Cúlaí” with the article
The plural of back in Irish is cúlaithe. Here is cúlaí after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Cúlaí” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using cúlaí, the Irish word for back.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Back in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for back?
The Irish for back is cúlaí (pronounced “KOO-lee”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is cúlaithe.
How do you pronounce cúlaí in Irish?
Cúlaí is said like “KOO-lee” (IPA /ˈkuːl̪ˠiː/).
What is the plural of back in Irish?
The plural of cúlaí is cúlaithe; with the article, na cúlaithe means “the backs”. The genitive plural is cúlaithe, as in líne na gcúlaithe (the back line).
Why does cúlaí change to chúlaí or gcúlaí?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) cúlaí becomes mo chúlaí (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcúlaí (eclipsis).
What is the difference between cúlaí and cúlbáire?
A cúlaí is a defender (back), while the cúlbáire is the goalkeeper.
