HeyRuaHow to say “billion” in Irish
- Irish:
- billiún
- English:
- billion
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “BIL-oon” /bʲiːlʲuːnˠ/
- Plural:
- billiúin (billions)
- Genitive singular:
- billiúin, an bhilliúin (e.g. luach billiúin euro, the value of a billion euro)
- Genitive plural:
- billiún, na mbilliún (e.g. costas na mbilliún, the cost of the billions)
What does “billiún” mean?
- billion
- The number one thousand million (1,000,000,000).Also: thousand million, 1,000,000,000.
“Billiún” with the article
The plural of billion in Irish is billiúin. Here is billiún after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Billiún” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using billiún, the Irish word for billion.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Billion in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for billion?
The Irish for billion is billiún (pronounced “BIL-oon”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is billiúin.
How do you pronounce billiún in Irish?
Billiún is said like “BIL-oon” (IPA /bʲiːlʲuːnˠ/).
What is the plural of billion in Irish?
The plural of billiún is billiúin; with the article, na billiúin means “the billions”. The genitive plural is billiún, as in costas na mbilliún (the cost of the billions).
Why does billiún change to bhilliún or mbilliún?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) billiún becomes mo bhilliún (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbilliún (eclipsis).
Does 'billiún' mean a thousand million or a million million?
In modern Irish usage 'billiún' means a thousand million (1,000,000,000), like the modern English billion.
