HeyRuaHow to say “death” in Irish
- Irish:
- éag
- English:
- death, extinction
- Word type:
- noun (verbal noun)
- Verbal noun of:
- éag, to die (ag éag, dying)
- Gender:
- masculine, third declension
- Pronunciation:
- “ayg” /eːɡ/
- Plural:
- éaga (deaths)
- Genitive singular:
- éaga, an éaga (e.g. lá a éaga, the day of his death)
- Genitive plural:
- éag, na n-éag (e.g. uair na n-éag, the hour of deaths)
What does “éag” mean?
“Éag” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- death
- Death, dying; also the verbal noun of the verb éag, to die.Also: dying, decease, expiry.
1 other meaning: extinction
- 2extinction
- The dying out or fading away of something, such as a sound, a fire or a family line.Also: dying out, fading, expiry.
Other Irish words for death: bás (death)
“Éag” as a verbal noun
After ag, éag means dying: it is the verbal noun of the verb éag (to die). A noun that follows it goes into the genitive.
“Éag” with the article
The plural of death in Irish is éaga. Here is éag after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Éag” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using éag, the Irish word for death.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Death in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for death?
The Irish for death is éag (pronounced “ayg”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is éaga. Depending on context it can also mean extinction.
How do you pronounce éag in Irish?
Éag is said like “ayg” (IPA /eːɡ/).
What is the plural of death in Irish?
The plural of éag is éaga; with the article, na héaga means “the deaths”. The genitive plural is éag, as in uair na n-éag (the hour of deaths).
Does éag have more than one meaning?
Yes. Éag can mean death or extinction, depending on context; the first is the most common. Éag also has its own entry as a verb meaning to die.
Why does éag sometimes have a t or h in front of it?
Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an t-éag (the death), a héag (her death), a n-éag (their death), na héaga (the deaths).
What is the difference between 'éag' and 'bás'?
'Bás' is the ordinary word for death, while 'éag' is more literary and survives mainly in phrases like 'dul in éag' (to die, die out) and 'go héag' (forever).
How do I say a species or language is dying out?
Use 'dul in éag': 'Tá an speiceas ag dul in éag' means the species is becoming extinct.
