HeyRuaHow to say “crab” in Irish
- Irish:
- portán
- English:
- crab
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “pur-TAWN” /pˠəɾˠˈt̪ˠɑːnˠ/
- Plural:
- portáin (crabs)
- Genitive singular:
- portáin, an phortáin (e.g. crúb an phortáin, the crab's claw)
- Genitive plural:
- portán, na bportán (e.g. pota portán, a crab pot)
What does “portán” mean?
- crab
- A sea or shore creature with a hard shell, ten legs and two large claws, which walks sideways.Also: shore crab, edible crab.
“Portán” with the article
The plural of crab in Irish is portáin. Here is portán after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Portán” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using portán, the Irish word for crab.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Crab in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for crab?
The Irish for crab is portán (pronounced “pur-TAWN”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is portáin.
How do you pronounce portán in Irish?
Portán is said like “pur-TAWN” (IPA /pˠəɾˠˈt̪ˠɑːnˠ/).
What is the plural of crab in Irish?
The plural of portán is portáin; with the article, na portáin means “the crabs”. The genitive plural is portán, as in pota portán (a crab pot).
Why does portán change to phortán or bportán?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) portán becomes mo phortán (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bportán (eclipsis).
What is the difference between portán and gliomach?
A portán is a crab, with a short wide body, while a gliomach is a lobster, with a long body and tail.
