HeyRuaHow to say “barley” in Irish
- Irish:
- eorna
- English:
- barley
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “OHR-nuh” /ˈoːɾˠn̪ˠə/
Various forms
- Genitive singular:
- eorna, na heorna (e.g. gort eorna, a field of barley)
What does “eorna” mean?
- barley
- A cereal crop whose grain is used for animal feed, malting and brewing.Also: barley grain, barley crop.
“Eorna” with the article
Here is eorna after the article (an t-alt).
an eorna
the barley
No change: feminine nouns starting with a vowel keep their form after an
“Eorna” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using eorna, the Irish word for barley.
Chuir an feirmeoir eorna sa ghort mór.
The farmer sowed barley in the big field.
Tá an eorna aibí anois.
The barley is ripe now.
Úsáidtear eorna chun beoir a dhéanamh.
Barley is used to make beer.
Bhí boladh na heorna san aer.
The smell of the barley was in the air.
Cheannaigh sé mála eorna don eallach.
He bought a bag of barley for the cattle.
Fásann eorna go maith in Éirinn.
Barley grows well in Ireland.
Chuir mé eorna san anraith.
I put barley in the soup.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Barley in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for barley?
The Irish for barley is eorna (pronounced “OHR-nuh”). It’s a feminine noun.
How do you pronounce eorna in Irish?
Eorna is said like “OHR-nuh” (IPA /ˈoːɾˠn̪ˠə/).
Does eorna have a plural?
No plural form is given for eorna in the standard. Many abstract and mass nouns in Irish have no plural.
Why does eorna sometimes have a t or h in front of it?
Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an eorna (the barley), a heorna (her barley), a n-eorna (their barley).
What is the difference between 'eorna' and 'arbhar'?
'Eorna' is specifically barley, while 'arbhar' is corn or grain crops in general.
Why does 'eorna' take h- after 'na'?
It is feminine, so the genitive with the article is 'na heorna', as in 'boladh na heorna'.
