HeyRuaHow to say “cattle-raid” in Irish
- Irish:
- táin
- English:
- cattle-raid, herd, wealth
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, third declension
- Pronunciation:
- “taan” /t̪ˠaːnʲ/
- Plural:
- táinte (cattle-raids)
- Genitive singular:
- tána, na tána (e.g. scéal na Tána, the story of the Táin)
- Genitive plural:
- táinte, na dtáinte (e.g. fear na dtáinte, the man of great wealth)
What does “táin” mean?
“Táin” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- cattle-raid
- A raid to carry off cattle, especially the famous one told in the epic Táin Bó Cuailnge.Also: raid, plundering expedition, foray.
2 other meanings: herd or wealth
- 2herd
- A herd or drove of cattle, or a flock of animals.Also: drove, flock, cattle.
- 3wealth
- Riches or a great amount of possessions, usually in the plural táinte.Also: riches, fortune, abundance.
“Táin” with the article
The plural of cattle-raid in Irish is táinte. Here is táin after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Táin” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using táin, the Irish word for cattle-raid.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Cattle-raid in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for cattle-raid?
The Irish for cattle-raid is táin (pronounced “taan”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is táinte. Depending on context it can also mean herd or wealth.
How do you pronounce táin in Irish?
Táin is said like “taan” (IPA /t̪ˠaːnʲ/).
What is the plural of cattle-raid in Irish?
The plural of táin is táinte; with the article, na táinte means “the cattle-raids”. The genitive plural is táinte, as in fear na dtáinte (the man of great wealth).
Does táin have more than one meaning?
Yes. Táin can mean cattle-raid, herd or wealth, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does táin change to tháin or dtáin?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) táin becomes mo tháin (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár dtáin (eclipsis).
What does the proverb 'Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte' mean?
It means health is better than wealth, using táinte in the sense of riches.
What is 'an Táin'?
An Táin usually refers to Táin Bó Cuailnge, the great Ulster Cycle epic about Queen Medb's raid for the Brown Bull of Cooley.
