HeyRuaHow to say “chieftain” in Irish
- Irish:
- taoiseach
- English:
- chieftain, taoiseach
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “TEE-shukh” /ˈt̪ˠiːʃəx/
- Plural:
- taoisigh (chieftains)
- Genitive singular:
- taoisigh, an taoisigh (e.g. oifig an Taoisigh, the Taoiseach's office)
- Genitive plural:
- taoiseach, na dtaoiseach (e.g. cumhacht na dtaoiseach, the power of the chieftains)
What does “taoiseach” mean?
“Taoiseach” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- chieftain
- The head of a clan or tribe, a ruler or leader of people in older times.Also: leader, ruler, clan head, lord.
1 other meaning: taoiseach
- 2taoiseach
- The head of the Irish government, the prime minister of Ireland.Also: prime minister, head of government, premier.
“Taoiseach” with the article
The plural of chieftain in Irish is taoisigh. Here is taoiseach after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Taoiseach” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using taoiseach, the Irish word for chieftain.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Chieftain in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for chieftain?
The Irish for chieftain is taoiseach (pronounced “TEE-shukh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is taoisigh. Depending on context it can also mean taoiseach.
How do you pronounce taoiseach in Irish?
Taoiseach is said like “TEE-shukh” (IPA /ˈt̪ˠiːʃəx/).
What is the plural of chieftain in Irish?
The plural of taoiseach is taoisigh; with the article, na taoisigh means “the chieftains”. The genitive plural is taoiseach, as in cumhacht na dtaoiseach (the power of the chieftains).
Does taoiseach have more than one meaning?
Yes. Taoiseach can mean chieftain or taoiseach, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does taoiseach change to thaoiseach or dtaoiseach?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) taoiseach becomes mo thaoiseach (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár dtaoiseach (eclipsis).
Is 'Taoiseach' written with a capital letter?
When it refers to the head of the Irish government, An Taoiseach takes a capital; in the historical sense of a chieftain it is written taoiseach.
What is the word for deputy prime minister?
The deputy is An Tánaiste, a word that originally meant the heir or second in rank to a chieftain.
