HeyRuaHow to say “bear” in Irish
- Irish:
- béar
- English:
- bear, bear (finance)
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “bair” /bʲeːɾˠ/
- Plural:
- béir (bears)
- Genitive singular:
- béir, an bhéir (e.g. fionnadh an bhéir, the bear's fur)
- Genitive plural:
- béar, na mbéar (e.g. uaimh na mbéar, the bears' cave)
What does “béar” mean?
“Béar” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- bear
- A large heavy wild mammal with thick fur and strong claws.Also: brown bear, polar bear, grizzly.
“Béar” with the article
The plural of bear in Irish is béir. Here is béar after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Béar” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using béar, the Irish word for bear.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Bear in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for bear?
The Irish for bear is béar (pronounced “bair”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is béir. Depending on context it can also mean bear (finance).
How do you pronounce béar in Irish?
Béar is said like “bair” (IPA /bʲeːɾˠ/).
What is the plural of bear in Irish?
The plural of béar is béir; with the article, na béir means “the bears”. The genitive plural is béar, as in uaimh na mbéar (the bears' cave).
Does béar have more than one meaning?
Yes. Béar can mean bear or bear (finance), depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does béar change to bhéar or mbéar?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) béar becomes mo bhéar (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbéar (eclipsis).
How do I say 'teddy bear' in Irish?
A teddy bear is usually called 'béirín' or 'teidí'.
