HeyRuaHow to say “cow” in Irish
- Irish:
- bó
- English:
- cow
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine
- Pronunciation:
- “boh” /bˠoː/
- Plural:
- ba (cows)
- Genitive singular:
- bó, na bó (e.g. bainne na bó, the cow's milk)
- Genitive plural:
- bó, na mbó (e.g. crú na mbó, the milking of the cows)
What does “bó” mean?
- cow
- A large female farm animal kept for its milk and meat.Also: milch cow, cattle, heifer.
“Bó” with the article
The plural of cow in Irish is ba. Here is bó after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Bó” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using bó, the Irish word for cow.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Cow in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for cow?
The Irish for cow is bó (pronounced “boh”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is ba.
How do you pronounce bó in Irish?
Bó is said like “boh” (IPA /bˠoː/).
What is the plural of cow in Irish?
The plural of bó is ba; with the article, na ba means “the cows”. The genitive plural is bó, as in crú na mbó (the milking of the cows).
Why does bó change to bhó or mbó?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) bó becomes mo bhó (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár mbó (eclipsis).
Why is the plural of 'bó' so different?
'Bó' has an irregular plural 'ba', so 'na ba' means 'the cows', while the genitive plural is 'na mbó', as in 'crú na mbó'.
Is there a general word for cattle?
Yes, 'eallach' means cattle or livestock in general, while 'bó' is a single cow.
