HeyRuaHow to say “beast” in Irish
- Irish:
- béist
- English:
- beast, brute
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine
- Pronunciation:
- “baysht” /bʲeːʃtʲ/
- Plural:
- béisteanna (beasts)
- Genitive singular:
- béiste, na béiste (e.g. fiacla na béiste, the beast's teeth)
- Genitive plural:
- béisteanna, na mbéisteanna (e.g. scéalta na mbéisteanna, the stories of the beasts)
What does “béist” mean?
“Béist” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- beast
- A large wild or fearsome animal, or a monster.Also: monster, creature, brute.
“Béist” with the article
The plural of beast in Irish is béisteanna. Here is béist after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Béist” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using béist, the Irish word for beast.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Beast in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for beast?
The Irish for beast is béist (pronounced “baysht”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is béisteanna. Depending on context it can also mean brute.
How do you pronounce béist in Irish?
Béist is said like “baysht” (IPA /bʲeːʃtʲ/).
What is the plural of beast in Irish?
The plural of béist is béisteanna; with the article, na béisteanna means “the beasts”. The genitive plural is béisteanna, as in scéalta na mbéisteanna (the stories of the beasts).
Does béist have more than one meaning?
Yes. Béist can mean beast or brute, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does béist change to bhéist or mbéist?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) béist becomes mo bhéist (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbéist (eclipsis).
What is the difference between béist and péist?
Béist usually means a beast or monster, while péist is a worm, though péist can also mean a monster as in ollphéist.
What is a 'béist dhubh'?
Béist dhubh, literally 'black beast', is a traditional name for the otter, more commonly called madra uisce or dobharchú.
