HeyRuaHow to say “countryside” in Irish
- Irish:
- tuath
- English:
- countryside, people, territory
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “too-uh” /t̪ˠuə/
- Plural:
- tuatha (countrysides)
- Genitive singular:
- tuaithe, na tuaithe (e.g. saol na tuaithe, country life)
- Genitive plural:
- tuath, na dtuath (e.g. ríthe na dtuath, the kings of the territories)
What does “tuath” mean?
“Tuath” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- countryside
- Rural areas as opposed to towns and cities, usually in the phrase 'faoin tuath' (in the country).Also: country, rural area, rural district.
2 other meanings: people or territory
- 2people
- A people or tribe; the common people, the laity as opposed to the clergy.Also: tribe, laity, laypeople.
- 3territory
- A petty kingdom or territorial unit in early Ireland, ruled by a local king.Also: petty kingdom, tuath.
Other Irish words for countryside: tuaithe (countryside)
“Tuath” with the article
The plural of countryside in Irish is tuatha. Here is tuath after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Tuath” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using tuath, the Irish word for countryside.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Countryside in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for countryside?
The Irish for countryside is tuath (pronounced “too-uh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is tuatha. Depending on context it can also mean people or territory.
How do you pronounce tuath in Irish?
Tuath is said like “too-uh” (IPA /t̪ˠuə/).
What is the plural of countryside in Irish?
The plural of tuath is tuatha; with the article, na tuatha means “the countrysides”. The genitive plural is tuath, as in ríthe na dtuath (the kings of the territories).
Does tuath have more than one meaning?
Yes. Tuath can mean countryside, people or territory, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does tuath change to thuath or dtuath?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) tuath becomes mo thuath (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár dtuath (eclipsis).
How do I say 'in the country' or 'to the country'?
Use 'faoin tuath' for both: 'Tá sé faoin tuath' (he is in the country) and 'Chuaigh sé faoin tuath' (he went to the country).
Does 'tuath' mean 'country' as in a nation?
No, a nation or state is 'tír'; 'tuath' means the countryside, as opposed to the town.
