Butcher in Irish (Búistéir): Meaning & Pronunciation

Q: What is the Irish for butcher?

The Irish for butcher is búistéir (pronounced “boosh-TCHAIR”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is búistéirí. Depending on context it can also mean butcher (cruel killer).

Q: What is the plural of butcher in Irish?

The plural of búistéir is búistéirí; with the article, na búistéirí means “the butchers”. The genitive plural is búistéirí, as in cumann na mbúistéirí (the butchers' association).

Q: Does búistéir have more than one meaning?

Yes. Búistéir can mean butcher or butcher (cruel killer), depending on context; the first is the most common.

How to say “butcher” in Irish

Irish:: búistéir
English:: butcher, butcher (cruel killer)
Word type:: noun
Gender:: masculine, third declension
Pronunciation:: “boosh-TCHAIR” /bˠuːʃˈtʲeːɾʲ/

Various forms

Plural:: búistéirí (butchers)
Genitive singular:: búistéara, an bhúistéara (e.g. siopa an bhúistéara, the butcher's shop)
Genitive plural:: búistéirí, na mbúistéirí (e.g. cumann na mbúistéirí, the butchers' association)

What does “búistéir” mean?

“Búistéir” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.

butcher: A person whose trade is killing animals or cutting up and selling meat.Also: meat seller, slaughterer.

1 other meaning: butcher (cruel killer)

2butcher (cruel killer): A person who kills people cruelly or needlessly.Also: butcher, killer, murderer.

“Búistéir” with the article

The plural of butcher in Irish is búistéirí. Here is búistéir after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an búistéir

the butcher

No change after an

na búistéirí

the butchers

Plural: no change after na

“Búistéir” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using búistéir, the Irish word for butcher.

Cheannaigh mé stéig ón mbúistéir ar maidin.

I bought a steak from the butcher this morning.

Tá an búistéir ag gearradh na feola.

The butcher is cutting the meat.

Tá siopa an bhúistéara dúnta inniu.

The butcher's shop is closed today.

Is búistéir é m'uncail le fiche bliain.

My uncle has been a butcher for twenty years.

Tá beirt bhúistéirí ag obair sa bhaile.

Two butchers work in the town.

Bhí mo dhaideo ina bhúistéir i nGaillimh.

My grandad was a butcher in Galway.

Díolann na búistéirí ispíní maithe anseo.

The butchers sell good sausages here.

Other nouns in Irish

More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.

treodirection uimhirnumber tráchttraffic cumasability droimback téarmaterm

Butcher in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for butcher?

The Irish for butcher is búistéir (pronounced “boosh-TCHAIR”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is búistéirí. Depending on context it can also mean butcher (cruel killer).

How do you pronounce búistéir in Irish?

Búistéir is said like “boosh-TCHAIR” (IPA /bˠuːʃˈtʲeːɾʲ/).

What is the plural of butcher in Irish?

The plural of búistéir is búistéirí; with the article, na búistéirí means “the butchers”. The genitive plural is búistéirí, as in cumann na mbúistéirí (the butchers' association).

Does búistéir have more than one meaning?

Yes. Búistéir can mean butcher or butcher (cruel killer), depending on context; the first is the most common.

Why does búistéir change to bhúistéir or mbúistéir?

Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) búistéir becomes mo bhúistéir (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbúistéir (eclipsis).

How do I say 'at the butcher's' in Irish?

Say 'ag an mbúistéir' or 'i siopa an bhúistéara'.

Butcher in Irish (Búistéir): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage