HeyRuaHow to say “desert” in Irish
- Irish:
- gaineamhlach
- English:
- desert
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “GAN-yuv-lukh” /ˈɡanʲəvˠlˠəx/
- Plural:
- gaineamhlaigh (deserts)
- Genitive singular:
- gaineamhlaigh, an ghaineamhlaigh (e.g. teas an ghaineamhlaigh, the heat of the desert)
- Genitive plural:
- gaineamhlach, na ngaineamhlach (e.g. ainmhithe na ngaineamhlach, animals of the deserts)
What does “gaineamhlach” mean?
- desert
- A large, dry, sandy area of land where little rain falls and few plants grow.Also: sandy desert, sandy waste, wasteland of sand.
Other Irish words for desert: tréig (abandon)
“Gaineamhlach” with the article
The plural of desert in Irish is gaineamhlaigh. Here is gaineamhlach after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Gaineamhlach” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using gaineamhlach, the Irish word for desert.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Desert in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for desert?
The Irish for desert is gaineamhlach (pronounced “GAN-yuv-lukh”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is gaineamhlaigh.
How do you pronounce gaineamhlach in Irish?
Gaineamhlach is said like “GAN-yuv-lukh” (IPA /ˈɡanʲəvˠlˠəx/).
What is the plural of desert in Irish?
The plural of gaineamhlach is gaineamhlaigh; with the article, na gaineamhlaigh means “the deserts”. The genitive plural is gaineamhlach, as in ainmhithe na ngaineamhlach (animals of the deserts).
Why does gaineamhlach change to ghaineamhlach or ngaineamhlach?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) gaineamhlach becomes mo ghaineamhlach (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ngaineamhlach (eclipsis).
What is the difference between gaineamhlach and fásach?
Gaineamhlach is specifically a sandy desert, from gaineamh 'sand', while fásach means a wilderness or desert in a broader sense, as in the biblical 'sa bhfásach'.
