HeyRuaHow to say “coal” in Irish
- Irish:
- gual
- English:
- coal, charcoal
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “goo-ul” /ɡuəl̪ˠ/
- Genitive singular:
- guail, an ghuail (e.g. mála guail, a bag of coal)
What does “gual” mean?
“Gual” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- coal
- A hard black mineral dug from the ground and burned as fuel.Also: charcoal, fuel.
1 other meaning: charcoal
- 2charcoal
- Burnt wood or similar black material, as in gual adhmaid or gual fearna.Also: char.
“Gual” with the article
Here is gual after the article (an t-alt).
“Gual” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using gual, the Irish word for coal.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Coal in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for coal?
The Irish for coal is gual (pronounced “goo-ul”). It’s a masculine noun. Depending on context it can also mean charcoal.
How do you pronounce gual in Irish?
Gual is said like “goo-ul” (IPA /ɡuəl̪ˠ/).
Does gual have a plural?
No plural form is given for gual in the standard. Many abstract and mass nouns in Irish have no plural.
Does gual have more than one meaning?
Yes. Gual can mean coal or charcoal, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does gual change to ghual or ngual?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) gual becomes mo ghual (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ngual (eclipsis).
What is the Irish for a coal miner?
A coal miner is mianadóir guail; a coalman who sells coal is gualadóir.
How do you say 'as black as coal'?
You can say chomh dubh le gual.
