HeyRuaHow to say “bird” in Irish
- Irish:
- éan
- English:
- bird, young bird
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “ayn” /eːn̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- éin (birds)
- Genitive singular:
- éin, an éin (e.g. nead an éin, the bird's nest)
- Genitive plural:
- éan, na n-éan (e.g. ceol na n-éan, the song of the birds)
What does “éan” mean?
“Éan” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- bird
- A feathered animal with wings and a beak, usually able to fly.Also: fowl, songbird.
1 other meaning: young bird
- 2young bird
- The young of a bird, a chick or nestling, as in 'éan circe' (chicken) or 'éan gé' (gosling).Also: chick, nestling, fledgling.
“Éan” with the article
The plural of bird in Irish is éin. Here is éan after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Éan” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using éan, the Irish word for bird.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Bird in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for bird?
The Irish for bird is éan (pronounced “ayn”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is éin. Depending on context it can also mean young bird.
How do you pronounce éan in Irish?
Éan is said like “ayn” (IPA /eːn̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of bird in Irish?
The plural of éan is éin; with the article, na héin means “the birds”. The genitive plural is éan, as in ceol na n-éan (the song of the birds).
Does éan have more than one meaning?
Yes. Éan can mean bird or young bird, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does éan sometimes have a t or h in front of it?
Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an t-éan (the bird), a héan (her bird), a n-éan (their bird), na héin (the birds).
What does the proverb 'Is fearr éan sa láimh ná dhá éan sa tor' mean?
It means 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush': 'éan sa láimh' is better than 'dhá éan sa tor'.
Is 'éan' only a bird?
It also means the young of a bird, as in 'éan circe' (chick) and 'éan gé' (gosling).
