HeyRuaHow to say “cheep” in Irish
- Irish:
- gíog
- English:
- cheep, peep
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “geeg” /ɟiːɡ/
- Plural:
- gíoga (cheeps)
- Genitive singular:
- gíge, na gíge (e.g. fuaim na gíge, the sound of the cheep)
- Genitive plural:
- gíog, na ngíog (e.g. glór na ngíog, the sound of the cheeps)
What does “gíog” mean?
“Gíog” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- cheep
- A small high sound, like the cheep of a bird or the squeak of a mouse.Also: chirp, squeak, tweet.
“Gíog” with the article
The plural of cheep in Irish is gíoga. Here is gíog after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Gíog” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using gíog, the Irish word for cheep.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Cheep in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for cheep?
The Irish for cheep is gíog (pronounced “geeg”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is gíoga. Depending on context it can also mean peep.
How do you pronounce gíog in Irish?
Gíog is said like “geeg” (IPA /ɟiːɡ/).
What is the plural of cheep in Irish?
The plural of gíog is gíoga; with the article, na gíoga means “the cheeps”. The genitive plural is gíog, as in glór na ngíog (the sound of the cheeps).
Does gíog have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gíog can mean cheep or peep, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does gíog change to ghíog or ngíog?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) gíog becomes mo ghíog (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ngíog (eclipsis).
What does 'gíog ná míog' mean?
It means not a peep or not a sound, as in 'Ní raibh gíog ná míog as', there wasn't a peep out of him.
