HeyRuaHow to say “crime” in Irish
- Irish:
- coir
- English:
- crime, fault, harm
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “kir” /kəɾʲ/
- Plural:
- coireanna (crimes)
- Genitive singular:
- coire, na coire (e.g. íospartach na coire, the victim of the crime)
- Genitive plural:
- coireanna, na gcoireanna (e.g. líon na gcoireanna, the number of crimes)
What does “coir” mean?
“Coir” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- crime
- An act that breaks the law and can be punished.Also: offence, criminal act.
2 other meanings: fault or harm
- 2fault
- A wrong or blameworthy act, a transgression or sin.Also: transgression, wrongdoing, sin.
- 3harm
- Harm or offensiveness, mostly in the phrase 'gan choir', meaning harmless or innocent.Also: harmfulness.
Other Irish words for crime: cion (offence)
“Coir” with the article
The plural of crime in Irish is coireanna. Here is coir after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Coir” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using coir, the Irish word for crime.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Crime in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for crime?
The Irish for crime is coir (pronounced “kir”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is coireanna. Depending on context it can also mean fault or harm.
How do you pronounce coir in Irish?
Coir is said like “kir” (IPA /kəɾʲ/).
What is the plural of crime in Irish?
The plural of coir is coireanna; with the article, na coireanna means “the crimes”. The genitive plural is coireanna, as in líon na gcoireanna (the number of crimes).
Does coir have more than one meaning?
Yes. Coir can mean crime, fault or harm, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does coir change to choir or gcoir?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) coir becomes mo choir (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár gcoir (eclipsis).
What is the difference between 'coir' and 'cion'?
'Coir' is the general word for a crime, while 'cion' is often used for an offence in legal language, e.g. 'cion tráchta' (traffic offence).
What does 'gan choir' mean?
'Gan choir' means harmless or innocent, as in 'créatúr gan choir', a harmless creature.
