Driver in Irish (Tiománaí): Meaning & Pronunciation

Q: What is the Irish for driver?

The Irish for driver is tiománaí (pronounced “TIM-aw-nee”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is tiománaithe. Depending on context it can also mean driver (of animals).

Q: What is the plural of driver in Irish?

The plural of tiománaí is tiománaithe; with the article, na tiománaithe means “the drivers”. The genitive plural is tiománaithe, as in ceardchumann na dtiománaithe (the drivers' union).

Q: Does tiománaí have more than one meaning?

Yes. Tiománaí can mean driver or driver (of animals), depending on context; the first is the most common.

How to say “driver” in Irish

Irish:: tiománaí
English:: driver, driver (of animals)
Word type:: noun
Gender:: masculine, fourth declension
Pronunciation:: “TIM-aw-nee” /ˈtʲɪmˠɑːnˠiː/

Various forms

Plural:: tiománaithe (drivers)
Genitive singular:: tiománaí, an tiománaí (e.g. suíochán an tiománaí, the driver's seat)
Genitive plural:: tiománaithe, na dtiománaithe (e.g. ceardchumann na dtiománaithe, the drivers' union)

What does “tiománaí” mean?

“Tiománaí” has two alternative meanings. The most common comes first.

driver: A person who drives a vehicle such as a car, bus or lorry.Also: motorist, chauffeur.

1 other meaning: driver (of animals)

2driver (of animals): A person who drives or herds animals, such as cattle to a fair.Also: drover, driver of cattle.

“Tiománaí” with the article

The plural of driver in Irish is tiománaithe. Here is tiománaí after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.

an tiománaí

the driver

No change after an

na tiománaithe

the drivers

Plural: no change after na

“Tiománaí” in a sentence: Irish examples

Common Irish sentences using tiománaí, the Irish word for driver.

Is tiománaí tacsaí é m'uncail.

My uncle is a taxi driver.

Ná labhair leis an tiománaí agus an bus ag gluaiseacht.

Do not talk to the driver while the bus is moving.

Bhí ceadúnas an tiománaí imithe as dáta.

The driver's licence had expired.

Tá easpa tiománaithe bus sa chathair.

There is a shortage of bus drivers in the city.

Gortaíodh beirt tiománaithe sa timpiste aréir.

Two drivers were injured in the accident last night.

Is tiománaí cúramach í mo mháthair.

My mother is a careful driver.

D'fhan an tiománaí sa leoraí ar feadh na hoíche.

The driver stayed in the lorry all night.

Other nouns in Irish

More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.

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Driver in Irish: frequently asked questions

What is the Irish for driver?

The Irish for driver is tiománaí (pronounced “TIM-aw-nee”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is tiománaithe. Depending on context it can also mean driver (of animals).

How do you pronounce tiománaí in Irish?

Tiománaí is said like “TIM-aw-nee” (IPA /ˈtʲɪmˠɑːnˠiː/).

What is the plural of driver in Irish?

The plural of tiománaí is tiománaithe; with the article, na tiománaithe means “the drivers”. The genitive plural is tiománaithe, as in ceardchumann na dtiománaithe (the drivers' union).

Does tiománaí have more than one meaning?

Yes. Tiománaí can mean driver or driver (of animals), depending on context; the first is the most common.

Why does tiománaí change to thiománaí or dtiománaí?

Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) tiománaí becomes mo thiománaí (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár dtiománaí (eclipsis).

What verb is tiománaí related to?

It comes from the verb tiomáin, 'drive', whose verbal noun is tiomáint, as in ag tiomáint an chairr, 'driving the car'.

Is there another word for a driver?

Tiománaí is the standard word; you may also hear 'draibhéir' informally, but tiománaí is preferred in the Caighdeán.

Driver in Irish (Tiománaí): Meaning, Pronunciation, Usage