HeyRuaHow to say “city” in Irish
- Irish:
- cathair
- English:
- city, stone fort, monastic city
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, fifth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “KA-hir” /ˈkahəɾʲ/
- Plural:
- cathracha (cities)
- Genitive singular:
- cathrach, na cathrach (e.g. lár na cathrach, the city centre)
- Genitive plural:
- cathracha, na gcathracha (e.g. daonra cathracha móra, the population of big cities)
What does “cathair” mean?
“Cathair” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- city
- A large and important town, often with its own local government.Also: town, metropolis, municipality.
2 other meanings: stone fort or monastic city
- 2stone fort
- A circular stone fort or ringfort from early Ireland, common in place names.Also: ringfort, fort, cashel.
- 3monastic city
- An enclosed early Christian church settlement.Also: monastic settlement, church enclosure.
“Cathair” with the article
The plural of city in Irish is cathracha. Here is cathair after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Cathair” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using cathair, the Irish word for city.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
City in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for city?
The Irish for city is cathair (pronounced “KA-hir”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is cathracha. Depending on context it can also mean stone fort or monastic city.
How do you pronounce cathair in Irish?
Cathair is said like “KA-hir” (IPA /ˈkahəɾʲ/).
What is the plural of city in Irish?
The plural of cathair is cathracha; with the article, na cathracha means “the cities”. The genitive plural is cathracha, as in daonra cathracha móra (the population of big cities).
Does cathair have more than one meaning?
Yes. Cathair can mean city, stone fort or monastic city, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does cathair change to chathair or gcathair?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) cathair becomes mo chathair (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcathair (eclipsis).
What is the difference between 'cathair' and 'baile mór'?
'Cathair' is a city, often with official city status, while 'baile mór' is a large town. Corcaigh is 'cathair', but Dún Dealgan is a 'baile mór'.
Why does 'cathair' appear in place names like Cathair Dónall?
In many place names 'cathair' means an old stone fort rather than a city, so Cathair Dónall refers to Dónall's fort.
