HeyRuaHow to say “dunnock” in Irish
- Irish:
- donnóg
- English:
- dunnock, brown butterfly, brownie
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “DUN-ohg” /ˈd̪ˠʊn̪ˠoːɡ/
- Plural:
- donnóga (dunnocks)
- Genitive singular:
- donnóige, na donnóige (e.g. nead na donnóige, the dunnock's nest)
- Genitive plural:
- donnóg, na ndonnóg (e.g. ceol na ndonnóg, the song of the dunnocks)
What does “donnóg” mean?
“Donnóg” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- dunnock
- A small brown songbird of hedges and gardens, also called the hedge sparrow.Also: hedge sparrow, hedge accentor.
2 other meanings: brown butterfly or brownie
- 2brown butterfly
- Any of several brown butterflies, such as the meadow brown or wall brown, named in set phrases.Also: meadow brown, wall brown, grayling.
- 3brownie
- A small square chocolate cake.Also: chocolate brownie.
“Donnóg” with the article
The plural of dunnock in Irish is donnóga. Here is donnóg after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Donnóg” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using donnóg, the Irish word for dunnock.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Dunnock in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for dunnock?
The Irish for dunnock is donnóg (pronounced “DUN-ohg”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is donnóga. Depending on context it can also mean brown butterfly or brownie.
How do you pronounce donnóg in Irish?
Donnóg is said like “DUN-ohg” (IPA /ˈd̪ˠʊn̪ˠoːɡ/).
What is the plural of dunnock in Irish?
The plural of donnóg is donnóga; with the article, na donnóga means “the dunnocks”. The genitive plural is donnóg, as in ceol na ndonnóg (the song of the dunnocks).
Does donnóg have more than one meaning?
Yes. Donnóg can mean dunnock, brown butterfly or brownie, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does donnóg change to dhonnóg or ndonnóg?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) donnóg becomes mo dhonnóg (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár ndonnóg (eclipsis).
Is the donnóg the same as the gealbhan?
No. The gealbhan is the house sparrow, while the donnóg is the dunnock or hedge sparrow, a different bird despite the English name.
