HeyRuaHow to say “back” in Irish
- Irish:
- droim
- English:
- back, ridge, surface
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, third declension
- Pronunciation:
- “drim” /d̪ˠɾˠɪmʲ/
- Plural:
- dromanna (backs)
- Genitive singular:
- droma, an droma (e.g. cnámh an droma, the backbone)
- Genitive plural:
- dromanna, na ndromanna (e.g. ar bharr na ndromanna, on top of the ridges)
What does “droim” mean?
“Droim” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- back
- The rear part of the body from the neck to the base of the spine.Also: spine, rear.
2 other meanings: ridge or surface
“Droim” with the article
The plural of back in Irish is dromanna. Here is droim after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Droim” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using droim, 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 droim (pronounced “drim”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is dromanna. Depending on context it can also mean ridge or surface.
How do you pronounce droim in Irish?
Droim is said like “drim” (IPA /d̪ˠɾˠɪmʲ/).
What is the plural of back in Irish?
The plural of droim is dromanna; with the article, na dromanna means “the backs”. The genitive plural is dromanna, as in ar bharr na ndromanna (on top of the ridges).
Does droim have more than one meaning?
Yes. Droim can mean back, ridge or surface, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does droim change to dhroim or ndroim?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) droim becomes mo dhroim (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ndroim (eclipsis).
How do I say 'back to front' in Irish?
Use droim ar ais, for example: Tá do gheansaí droim ar ais ort, 'your jumper is on back to front'.
What does 'ar dhroim na talún' mean?
It means 'on the face of the earth', literally 'on the back of the land', used for emphasis.
