HeyRuaHow to say “elephant” in Irish
- Irish:
- eilifint
- English:
- elephant
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- feminine, second declension
- Pronunciation:
- “EL-ih-fint” /ˈɛlʲəfʲɪnʲtʲ/
- Plural:
- eilifintí (elephants)
- Genitive singular:
- eilifinte, na heilifinte (e.g. trunc na heilifinte, the elephant's trunk)
- Genitive plural:
- eilifintí, na n-eilifintí (e.g. tréad na n-eilifintí, the herd of elephants)
What does “eilifint” mean?
- elephant
- A very large grey animal with a long trunk, big ears and tusks, found in Africa and Asia.Also: jumbo, pachyderm.
“Eilifint” with the article
The plural of elephant in Irish is eilifintí. Here is eilifint after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Eilifint” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using eilifint, the Irish word for elephant.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Elephant in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for elephant?
The Irish for elephant is eilifint (pronounced “EL-ih-fint”). It’s a feminine noun and the plural is eilifintí.
How do you pronounce eilifint in Irish?
Eilifint is said like “EL-ih-fint” (IPA /ˈɛlʲəfʲɪnʲtʲ/).
What is the plural of elephant in Irish?
The plural of eilifint is eilifintí; with the article, na heilifintí means “the elephants”. The genitive plural is eilifintí, as in tréad na n-eilifintí (the herd of elephants).
Why does eilifint sometimes have a t or h in front of it?
Irish nouns beginning with a vowel take a prefix after certain words: an eilifint (the elephant), a heilifint (her elephant), a n-eilifint (their elephant), na heilifintí (the elephants).
Is there an Irish equivalent of 'white elephant'?
Yes, 'eilifint bhán' is used for a costly, useless possession, just as in English.
