HeyRuaHow to say “boy” in Irish
- Irish:
- garsún
- English:
- boy, servant boy
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “gar-SOON” /ɡaɾˠˈsˠuːnˠ/
- Plural:
- garsúin (boys)
- Genitive singular:
- garsúin, an gharsúin (e.g. rothar an gharsúin, the boy's bicycle)
- Genitive plural:
- garsún, na ngarsún (e.g. scoil na ngarsún, the boys' school)
What does “garsún” mean?
“Garsún” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- boy
- A young male child or youth; the word is especially common in Munster.Also: young lad, lad, youngster.
“Garsún” with the article
The plural of boy in Irish is garsúin. Here is garsún after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Garsún” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using garsún, the Irish word for boy.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Boy in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for boy?
The Irish for boy is garsún (pronounced “gar-SOON”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is garsúin. Depending on context it can also mean servant boy.
How do you pronounce garsún in Irish?
Garsún is said like “gar-SOON” (IPA /ɡaɾˠˈsˠuːnˠ/).
What is the plural of boy in Irish?
The plural of garsún is garsúin; with the article, na garsúin means “the boys”. The genitive plural is garsún, as in scoil na ngarsún (the boys' school).
Does garsún have more than one meaning?
Yes. Garsún can mean boy or servant boy, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does garsún change to gharsún or ngarsún?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) garsún becomes mo gharsún (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ngarsún (eclipsis).
What is the difference between garsún, buachaill and gasúr?
All mean boy: buachaill is the standard general word, garsún is typical of Munster, and gasúr is typical of Connacht and Ulster.
