HeyRuaHow to say “castle” in Irish
- Irish:
- caistéal
- English:
- castle, castle (chess)
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “KASH-tyayl” /ˈkaʃtʲeːl/
- Plural:
- caistéil (castles)
- Genitive singular:
- caistéil, an chaistéil (e.g. ballaí an chaistéil, the walls of the castle)
- Genitive plural:
- caistéal, na gcaistéal (e.g. stair na gcaistéal, the history of the castles)
What does “caistéal” mean?
“Caistéal” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- castle
- A large fortified building with thick stone walls, built in the past to defend against attack.Also: fortress, keep, stronghold.
1 other meaning: castle (chess)
- 2castle (chess)
- The chess piece also called a rook, which moves in straight lines.Also: rook, castle, chess piece.
Other Irish words for castle: caisleán (castle)
“Caistéal” with the article
The plural of castle in Irish is caistéil. Here is caistéal after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Caistéal” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using caistéal, the Irish word for castle.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Castle in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for castle?
The Irish for castle is caistéal (pronounced “KASH-tyayl”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is caistéil. Depending on context it can also mean castle (chess).
How do you pronounce caistéal in Irish?
Caistéal is said like “KASH-tyayl” (IPA /ˈkaʃtʲeːl/).
What is the plural of castle in Irish?
The plural of caistéal is caistéil; with the article, na caistéil means “the castles”. The genitive plural is caistéal, as in stair na gcaistéal (the history of the castles).
Does caistéal have more than one meaning?
Yes. Caistéal can mean castle or castle (chess), depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does caistéal change to chaistéal or gcaistéal?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) caistéal becomes mo chaistéal (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcaistéal (eclipsis).
What is the difference between caistéal and caisleán?
Both mean castle; caisleán is the more common, traditional word, while caistéal is a less common variant, also used for the rook in chess.
