HeyRuaHow to say “cliff” in Irish
- Irish:
- aill
- English:
- cliff
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “al” /alʲ/
- Plural:
- aillte (cliffs)
- Genitive singular:
- aille, na haille (e.g. barr na haille, the top of the cliff)
- Genitive plural:
- aillte, na n-aillte (e.g. cosán na n-aillte, the cliff path)
What does “aill” mean?
- cliff
- A high, steep rock face, especially one on the coast.Also: precipice, crag, rock face.
“Aill” with the article
The plural of cliff in Irish is aillte. Here is aill after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Aill” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using aill, the Irish word for cliff.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Cliff in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for cliff?
The Irish for cliff is aill (pronounced “al”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is aillte.
How do you pronounce aill in Irish?
Aill is said like “al” (IPA /alʲ/).
What is the plural of cliff in Irish?
The plural of aill is aillte; with the article, na haillte means “the cliffs”. The genitive plural is aillte, as in cosán na n-aillte (the cliff path).
Why does aill sometimes have a t or h in front of it?
Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an aill (the cliff), a haill (her cliff), a n-aill (their cliff), na haillte (the cliffs).
What is the difference between 'aill' and 'faill'?
They mean the same thing, cliff. 'Faill' is the usual form in Munster and Connacht speech, while 'aill' is the headword in many standard sources.
How do you say 'over the cliff' in Irish?
Use 'le haill', as in 'thit sé le haill', he fell over the cliff.
