HeyRuaHow to say “end” in Irish
- Irish:
- foirceann
- English:
- end, ending, limit
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine, first declension
- Pronunciation:
- “FIR-kyun” /ˈfʲoɾʲcən̪ˠ/
- Plural:
- foircinn (ends)
- Genitive singular:
- foircinn, an fhoircinn (e.g. barr an fhoircinn, the tip of the end)
- Genitive plural:
- foirceann, na bhfoirceann (e.g. ceangal na bhfoirceann, the joining of the ends)
What does “foirceann” mean?
“Foirceann” has three alternative meanings. The most common comes first.
- end
- The extreme point or tip of something, its outer end.Also: extremity, tip, terminal.
“Foirceann” with the article
The plural of end in Irish is foircinn. Here is foirceann after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Foirceann” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using foirceann, the Irish word for end.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
End in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for end?
The Irish for end is foirceann (pronounced “FIR-kyun”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is foircinn. Depending on context it can also mean ending or limit.
How do you pronounce foirceann in Irish?
Foirceann is said like “FIR-kyun” (IPA /ˈfʲoɾʲcən̪ˠ/).
What is the plural of end in Irish?
The plural of foirceann is foircinn; with the article, na foircinn means “the ends”. The genitive plural is foirceann, as in ceangal na bhfoirceann (the joining of the ends).
Does foirceann have more than one meaning?
Yes. Foirceann can mean end, ending or limit, depending on context; the first is the most common.
Why does foirceann change to fhoirceann or bhfoirceann?
Irish changes the start of some words after certain words. After mo (my) foirceann becomes m'fhoirceann (lenition), and after ár (our) or i (in) it becomes ár bhfoirceann (eclipsis).
What is the difference between foirceann and deireadh?
Deireadh is the everyday word for 'end' in time or sequence, while foirceann is more formal and usually means the physical tip or a grammatical ending.
