HeyRuaHow to say “derby” in Irish
- Irish:
- dearbaí
- English:
- derby, local derby
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, fourth declension
- Pronunciation:
- “DJAR-uh-bee” /ˈdʲaɾˠəbˠiː/
- Plural:
- dearbaithe (derbies)
- Genitive singular:
- dearbaí, an dearbaí (e.g. buaiteoir an dearbaí, the winner of the derby)
- Genitive plural:
- dearbaithe, na ndearbaithe (e.g. atmaisféar na ndearbaithe, the atmosphere of the derbies)
What does “dearbaí” mean?
“Dearbaí” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- derby
- A major flat horse race, such as the Derby at Epsom or the Irish Derby at the Curragh.Also: horse race, the derby.
1 other meaning: local derby
- 2local derby
- A match between two rival teams from the same area, such as neighbouring counties or clubs.Also: derby match, derby game, rivalry match.
“Dearbaí” with the article
The plural of derby in Irish is dearbaithe. Here is dearbaí after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Dearbaí” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using dearbaí, the Irish word for derby.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Derby in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for derby?
The Irish for derby is dearbaí (pronounced “DJAR-uh-bee”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is dearbaithe. Depending on context it can also mean local derby.
How do you pronounce dearbaí in Irish?
Dearbaí is said like “DJAR-uh-bee” (IPA /ˈdʲaɾˠəbˠiː/).
What is the plural of derby in Irish?
The plural of dearbaí is dearbaithe; with the article, na dearbaithe means “the derbies”. The genitive plural is dearbaithe, as in atmaisféar na ndearbaithe (the atmosphere of the derbies).
Does dearbaí have more than one meaning?
Yes. Dearbaí can mean derby or local derby, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does dearbaí change to dhearbaí or ndearbaí?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) dearbaí becomes mo dhearbaí (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ndearbaí (eclipsis).
Is 'dearbaí' related to 'dearbhú' (affirmation)?
No. 'Dearbaí', spelled without h, is a borrowing of English 'derby', while 'dearbhú' means an affirmation or confirmation and comes from 'dearbhaigh'.
When is 'Dearbaí' written with a capital letter?
It is capitalised as the name of a specific race, as in 'an Dearbaí' or 'Dearbaí na hÉireann', but written lowercase for a local rivalry match, as in 'dearbaí áitiúil'.
