HeyRuaHow to say “birthday” in Irish
- Irish:
- breithlá
- English:
- birthday
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “BREH-law” /ˈbʲɾʲɛhl̪ˠɑː/
- Plural:
- breithlaethanta (birthdays)
- Genitive singular:
- breithlae, an bhreithlae (e.g. cáca breithlae, birthday cake)
- Genitive plural:
- breithlaethanta, na mbreithlaethanta (e.g. ceiliúradh na mbreithlaethanta, the birthday celebrations)
What does “breithlá” mean?
- birthday
- The day each year on which a person was born, or the anniversary of that day.Also: birth day, anniversary of birth.
“Breithlá” with the article
The plural of birthday in Irish is breithlaethanta. Here is breithlá after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Breithlá” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using breithlá, the Irish word for birthday.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Phrases with “breithlá”
Birthday in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for birthday?
The Irish for birthday is breithlá (pronounced “BREH-law”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is breithlaethanta.
How do you pronounce breithlá in Irish?
Breithlá is said like “BREH-law” (IPA /ˈbʲɾʲɛhl̪ˠɑː/).
What is the plural of birthday in Irish?
The plural of breithlá is breithlaethanta; with the article, na breithlaethanta means “the birthdays”. The genitive plural is breithlaethanta, as in ceiliúradh na mbreithlaethanta (the birthday celebrations).
Why does breithlá change to bhreithlá or mbreithlá?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) breithlá becomes mo bhreithlá (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbreithlá (eclipsis).
How do I say 'happy birthday' in Irish?
Say 'Breithlá sona!' or 'Breithlá sona duit!'. You may also hear 'Lá breithe sona'.
Is there another word for birthday?
Yes, 'lá breithe' (literally 'day of birth') is also widely used and means the same as 'breithlá'.
