HeyRuaHow to say “dolphin” in Irish
- Irish:
- deilf
- English:
- dolphin
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “delf” /dʲɛlʲfʲ/
- Plural:
- deilfeanna (dolphins)
- Genitive singular:
- deilfe, na deilfe (e.g. eite na deilfe, the dolphin's fin)
- Genitive plural:
- deilfeanna, na ndeilfeanna (e.g. scoil na ndeilfeanna, the school of dolphins)
What does “deilf” mean?
- dolphin
- A dolphin: an intelligent sea mammal with a beak-like snout that lives in groups and swims fast.Also: porpoise, sea mammal.
“Deilf” with the article
The plural of dolphin in Irish is deilfeanna. Here is deilf after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Deilf” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using deilf, the Irish word for dolphin.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Dolphin in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for dolphin?
The Irish for dolphin is deilf (pronounced “delf”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is deilfeanna.
How do you pronounce deilf in Irish?
Deilf is said like “delf” (IPA /dʲɛlʲfʲ/).
What is the plural of dolphin in Irish?
The plural of deilf is deilfeanna; with the article, na deilfeanna means “the dolphins”. The genitive plural is deilfeanna, as in scoil na ndeilfeanna (the school of dolphins).
Why does deilf change to dheilf or ndeilf?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) deilf becomes mo dheilf (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ndeilf (eclipsis).
Is a dolphin a fish in Irish?
No, a deilf is a mammal, a 'míol mór' type creature, not an 'iasc', though it lives in the sea. A porpoise is usually 'muc mhara'.
