HeyRuaHow to say “bull” in Irish
- Irish:
- tarbh
- English:
- bull, bull (male of large animals), taurus
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “TAR-uv” /t̪ˠaɾˠəvˠ/
- Plural:
- tairbh (bulls)
- Genitive singular:
- tairbh, an tairbh (e.g. adharca an tairbh, the bull's horns)
- Genitive plural:
- tarbh, na dtarbh (e.g. aonach tarbh, a bull fair)
What does “tarbh” mean?
“Tarbh” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- bull
- An adult male of cattle, kept for breeding.Also: male cow, stud bull.
2 other meanings: bull (male of large animals) or taurus
- 2bull (male of large animals)
- The adult male of some other large animals, such as the seal or whale.Also: bull, male seal, male whale.
- 3taurus
- Tarbh, with a capital letter, is the star sign and constellation Taurus.Also: the bull, star sign.
“Tarbh” with the article
The plural of bull in Irish is tairbh. Here is tarbh after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Tarbh” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using tarbh, the Irish word for bull.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Bull in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for bull?
The Irish for bull is tarbh (pronounced “TAR-uv”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is tairbh. Depending on context it can also mean bull (male of large animals) or taurus.
How do you pronounce tarbh in Irish?
Tarbh is said like “TAR-uv” (IPA /t̪ˠaɾˠəvˠ/).
What is the plural of bull in Irish?
The plural of tarbh is tairbh; with the article, na tairbh means “the bulls”. The genitive plural is tarbh, as in aonach tarbh (a bull fair).
Does tarbh have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tarbh can mean bull, bull (male of large animals) or taurus, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does tarbh change to tharbh or dtarbh?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) tarbh becomes mo tharbh (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár dtarbh (eclipsis).
What is the difference between 'tarbh' and 'damh'?
A 'tarbh' is an intact bull used for breeding, while a 'damh' is an ox, a castrated bull used for work.
How do you say 'to take the bull by the horns' in Irish?
A common equivalent is 'an tarbh a ghabháil ar na hadharca', meaning to face a problem directly.
