HeyRuaHow to say “chief town” in Irish
- Irish:
- ardbhaile
- English:
- chief town, capital
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “AWRD-wal-yuh” /ˈaːɾˠdˠˌwalʲə/
- Plural:
- ardbhailte (chief towns)
- Genitive singular:
- ardbhaile, an ardbhaile (e.g. lár an ardbhaile, the centre of the chief town)
- Genitive plural:
- ardbhailte, na n-ardbhailte (e.g. daonra na n-ardbhailte, the population of the chief towns)
What does “ardbhaile” mean?
“Ardbhaile” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- chief town
- The main or most important town of a region or district.Also: principal town, main town, regional centre.
1 other meaning: capital
- 2capital
- A city or town that serves as the administrative centre of a county or region.Also: county town, administrative centre.
Other Irish words for chief town: príomhbhaile (chief town)
“Ardbhaile” with the article
The plural of chief town in Irish is ardbhailte. Here is ardbhaile after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Ardbhaile” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using ardbhaile, the Irish word for chief town.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Chief town in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for chief town?
The Irish for chief town is ardbhaile (pronounced “AWRD-wal-yuh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is ardbhailte. Depending on context it can also mean capital.
How do you pronounce ardbhaile in Irish?
Ardbhaile is said like “AWRD-wal-yuh” (IPA /ˈaːɾˠdˠˌwalʲə/).
What is the plural of chief town in Irish?
The plural of ardbhaile is ardbhailte; with the article, na hardbhailte means “the chief towns”. The genitive plural is ardbhailte, as in daonra na n-ardbhailte (the population of the chief towns).
Does ardbhaile have more than one meaning?
Yes. Ardbhaile can mean chief town or capital, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does ardbhaile sometimes have a t or h in front of it?
Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an t-ardbhaile (the chief town), a hardbhaile (her chief town), a n-ardbhaile (their chief town), na hardbhailte (the chief towns).
Is 'ardbhaile' the same as 'príomhchathair'?
Not quite: 'príomhchathair' is the capital city of a country, while 'ardbhaile' is the chief town of a region or county.
